Page:On papal conclaves (IA a549801700cartuoft).djvu/116

 fit, even with the practice of immurement in Conclave being conceded, though not that of canvassing in behalf of a specific candidate during the Pope's lifetime. So direct an approach to election was absolutely forbidden. The death of the Pope was to be notified by any Cardinal, or the senior amongst the Priests with him at the time of decease, the Conclave being constituted by the larger number of Cardinals who might be together in the territory of one Catholic sovereign. To this Conclave summons should be issued by the Cardinal Dean, if one of this majority, or, in his absence, by the senior Cardinal; and on this acting Prelate should devolve the selection of the place for assembly. Moreover, the Cardinals composing a majority under the said conditions of residence were declared to constitute a Conclave de facto, and empowered to proceed to a canonical election of themselves without any summons, provided ten days had been allowed to elapse, after notification of the Pope's death, for Cardinals at a distance to join their colleagues. Under no circumstances, however, was an election to be valid without the majority of two-thirds of the Cardinals in Conclave. Such were the ample and very carefully-considered