Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-05-20
Requested That No Monument
BE Erected, But Only n
Simple Tablet
Bearing the Inscription, "Here
Lies Leo XII, the Least
of POpes."
MEETING OF CONCLAYE OF CARDINALS

Leo XIII. was in Rome when Leo XII.
died and his successor was elected. He
was only student at the time, and his
letters to his brother, John Baptista, Civ
ing full account of these notable events
are of special interest just now, when
the world is hearing alarming reports of
the health of the present Pope and is
talking of the choice of his successor.
Gioacchino Pecci, the present Pope, was
then nineteen years old, and a student at
the Ecclesiastical College in Rome. His
letters written at that time to his broth
ers, to whom he was deeply attached,
have been preserved and lately published.
Under date of February 20, 1929, he
wrote to John Baptista;
"In my last letter l acquainted you
with the fact of the Pope's death, and
now let me tell you all the particulars
We in Rome even did not expect his
death, for he was i'll only FIVE days, dying
at 1850 on the 10th. He had ruled for
five years, four months and thirteen
DAYS, ten days longer than Pope Sixtus
""
Under date of February % he wrote:
Before tell you what happened after
the Pope's death let Inc tell you that he
left remarkable will. He states that no
monument must be erected to him, as
has been the custom. He orders that OH
the proper day his body shall be depos-
tied near the statue of Plus VI, and that
simple stone tablet shall be placed over
It with the inscription, Here lies Leo
Kill, the Least of the Popes. There is
much talk about this inscription in
Rome.
"As soon as the Pope had drawn his
last breath in Camerlengo Cardinal
Galeffi 1.-THE Chamberlain, who rules the
church at the head of council of three
Cardinals until the new Pope is elected)
began the ceremonies prescribed for the
occasion, as follows: He proclaimed the
death, broke the fsherman's ring and
the seal, and took an escort from the
Swiss guard. l must note, however,
that Cardinal Galeffi enjoys the affec-
tons of the people, and when he goes on
the street they bow lower before him
than they ever did before the Pope. If
the people had the casting of the votes
this Cardinal would be the next Pope.
"Twenty-four hours after his death
the body of the Pope was embalnied and
brought into the Sistine Chapel. Later
the body was taken into the chapel of the
Holy Sacrament of St. Peter, where it
was viewed by tremendous crowds of
people for three days, and they were even
allowed to salute his feet On Sunday
he was at last buried near the ashes of
Plus VII. The catafalque on which the
body lay was most wonderful pyramid,
adorned with bas-reliefs and medallions
bearing the picture of Leo, the arms OF
his family" etc.
Thirteen days after the Pope's death
the conclave of cardinals met.
Several days before the meeting of
the conclaye," the young student wrote,
'there were rumors regarding certain
lodges 1t was said that certain per-
sons who did not like the regime had
held meetings. 1t is certain that Capel-
letti, who acted as Governor of Rome
for the College of Cardinals, gave orders
for the arrest of large number who had
-taken part in the meeting, and that
hundred daggers were found in private
house inhabited by one Of the prisoners.
The plot was to wait until the Cardinals
had met, raise rebellion in the city and
slaughter those in authority. But, thanks
be to God, Dominus dissipavit consjllia
eorum God has made vain their plans
"On the day of the conclave the guards
to the number of 500 were stationed
around the building, while other consta-
bles in citizens clothes mixed in the
crowd. The number of Cardinals who
marched to the conclave was thirty-two.
Five others-was. it from fear3-went
later. These were Bernetti, Marc, Guer-
riera, Rivarola and Vidoni. A great
crowd had assembled to see them pass an
hour before sunset.
ALREADY three days have passed since
the conclave met, and who will be Pope!
That is hard to say. How can any man
telR Castiglione, Glustinani and especi-
ally Pacca, are named as possible success
full candidates. The last was only two
votes short yesterday at the scrutinium
1.-THE reading Of the votes).
1T is said here that the new Pope will
soon be chosen. trust il will be for the
best interests of the church."
When he wrote again OH March the
future Pope had this to say of the cleo
ton: Nothing can yet be stated as to
the conclave.. Every day some new Car
dinal comes, entering with great pomp.
The day before yesterday Ruffo- Scilla
came, and today the Archbishop Of May
ence. The French Cardinals are ex-