Page:On papal conclaves (IA a549801700cartuoft).djvu/154

 138 intervened should be ipso jure null and void, 'every power and faculty being taken away of calling the said Cardinal Coscia to give his vote in such election on the ground of any claim or motive specified in canon law, or in virtue of any constitution whatsoever of Pius Gregory  and other our predecessors.' A more carefully worded expression of Pontifical plenitude, so as to effectively override every apparently opposing enactment, cannot be conceived. Yet Pope Clement goes on to state that, having reflected on the grave consequences that might follow on such annullations and invalidations, he feels himself bound to put forward the declaration that he did not in any way pretend of his authority to impugn the validity of a yet future election. 'Wherefore,' writes the Pope, 'we declare that never has it been our wish or intention to prejudice the canonical election of our successor, or the supreme dignity and authority of the Church, which, after our demise, shall he lawfully vested in the person of him who has been chosen with the accustomed forms, it being neither according to reason nor equity that the transmission to his person of a penalty attaching to the delinquent be