Church Professor Says Pro-Fascist Cardinal Unlikely to Be Next Pope

The college of cardinals in Rome will probably not elect a Pope strongly in favor of the Rome-Berlin axis, George La Piana, John H. Morrison Professor of Church History, predicted yesterday. What influence the American cardinals will have, if any, no one knows, he added.

It is hardly likely that the cardinals will elect a pawn of Mussolini, "because today the college of cardinals is more representative of the whole church in the various countries of the world, and because the enthusiasm of many Italian cardinals for Mussolini has dampened."

"The election of a non-Italian cardinal is rather improbable," he said. "It would be an open challenge to Mussolini, and in view of the present political situation in Europe it might lead to serious complications," Professor La Piana believes that in case of war, a non-Italian Pope would be in a tragic situation.

After discarding from the list of 35 Italian cardinals the 15 who are too old and the dozen Cardinals of the Curia, who have little chance of being elected, the conclave will probably elect one of the eight cardinal bishops of residential sees, according to Professor La Piana.

"Of the eight Italian cardinals in this group, two or three have gone a little too far in their enthusiasm for fascism, and this may put them out of the race.