| Papal Conclave, 1914 |
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POLITICAL CONTEXT With Europe facing World War I whoever was selected would face the difficulty of leading the Holy See through the ''war to end all wars'', in which Catholic Belgium and France were attacked by Protestant Germany , which was supported by Catholic Austria while the Protestant United Kingdom Of Great Britain And Ireland (including Catholic Ireland ) and Russian Orthodox Russia sided with France. Critics wondered whether the Holy See should remain Neutral or whether it should assume a position of moral leadership by casting public judgments on the behaviour of the various combatants. The conclave brought together Cardinals from the combatant nations, including Károl Cardinal Von Hörnig from Austria-Hungary Louis-Henri Cardinal Luçon from France, Felix Cardinal Von Hartmann from Germany and two from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Francis Cardinal Bourne (from England & Wales) and Michael Cardinal Logue (from Ireland). VETO ABOLISHED After the Lying-in-state and funeral of the popular but controversial Pope Pius X, cardinals assembled for the conclave at the end of August 1914. One major difference with earlier conclaves was that this time no secular monarch possessed a veto over whomever the cardinals could select as pope. For the first time in centuries the cardinals alone would make the choice. NEW POPE The conclave itself assembled in the Sistine Chapel on 31 August . On 3 September 1914, on the tenth ballot, ''Giacomo Cardinal della Chiesa'', Archbishop Of Bologna in Italy was elected pope and took the name Pope Benedict XV . Reportedly della Chisea had been elected by one vote. Raphael Cardinal Merry Del Val insisted that the ballots be checked to insure that della Chiesa hadn’t voted for himself - which he hadn’t. When the cardinals offered their homage to the new pope, Benedict allegedly said to Merry del Val, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” To which the unabashed Merry del Val replied with the next verse of Psalm 118 : “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” CONCLAVE FACTFILE
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