. In the 16th and 17th centuries the character of the conclaves
was determined by the influence of what were then known as the
"factions," i.e. the formation of the cardinals into groups according to
their nationality or their relations with one of the Catholic courts of
Spain, France or the Empire, or again according as they favoured the
political policy of the late pope or his predecessor. These groups
upheld or opposed certain candidates. The Catholic courts naturally
entrusted the cardinals "of the crown," i.e. those of their nation, with
the mission of removing, as far as lay in their power, candidates who
were distasteful to their party; the various governments could even make
public their desire to exclude certain candidates. But they soon claimed
an actual right of formal and direct exclusion, which should be notified
in the conclave in their name by a cardinal charged with this mission,
and should have a decisive effect; this is what has been called the
right of veto. We cannot say precisely at what time during the 16th
century this transformation of the practice into a right, tacitly
accepted by the Sacred College, took place; it was doubtless felt to be
less dangerous formally to recognize the right of the three sovereigns
each to object to one candidate, than to face the inconvenience of
objections, such as were formulated on several occasions by Philip II.,
which, though less legal in form, might apply to an indefinite number of
candidates. The fact remains, however, that it was a right based on
custom, and was not supported by any text or written concession; but the
diplomatic right was straightforward and definite, and was better than
the intrigues of former days. During the 19th century Austria exercised,
or tried to exercise, the right of veto at all the conclaves, except
that which elected Leo XIII. (1878); it did so again at the conclave of
1903. On the 2nd of August Cardinal Rampolla had received twenty-nine
votes, when Cardinal Kolzielsko Puzina, bishop of Cracow, declared that
the Austrian government opposed the election of Cardinal Rampolla; the
Sacred College considered that it ought to yield, and on the 4th of
August elected Cardinal Sarto, who took the name of Pius X. By the bull
_Commissum Nobis_ (January 20, 1904), Pius X. suppressed all right of
"veto" or "exclusion" on the part of the secular governments, and
forbade, under pain of excommunication reserved to the future pope, any
cardinal or