Rampolla
MARIANO DEL TIN- DARO, an Italian clergyman; born in Polizzi, Sicily, Aug. 17, 1843; was a member of the Sicilian aristocracy, which enabled him to reach a very exalted position in the Catholic hierarchy. On the decease of Cardinal Jacobini, the Papal Secretary of State, in 1887, Pope Leo XIII. created Rampolla a cardinal and also appointed him Papal Secretary of State. He at once began to make his influence felt in foreign affairs. His principal object was a political alliance with France, in order to insure the support of that country in the restoration of the temporal power of the Pope. To this end he was the first to discard the French Royalist party. The French Republic was solemnly recognized by him, and the French clerical electorate encouraged to vote for the Republican candidates. The Dreyfus affair, however, having given to the French policy a different turn, destroyed entirely the plan. Rampolla was also the prefect of severa. congregations, and Grand Prior of the Military Order of Malta. It was believed that he would be elected Pope in 1903, but Austrian interests were opposed to him, and Pius X. was raised to the Papal throne. Rampolla resigned office. He died in 1913. RAMSAY