Waterbury Democrat., 1901-01-26
A SEALED MESSAGE.
The Pope Said to Expect His Own
 Death


 Since the death of Queen Victoria, the eyes of the world are turned more intently towards the Vatican. Leo XIII is the oldest ruler in Europe and his departure is expected by the curious at any time. A London dis patch to the Sun says that exceptional importance was attached by the Nati- can to the reception Tuesday by the Pope and unusual precautions were taken to maintain secrecy as to the proceedings. Two days previously Cardinal Rnmpolla, the papal secre- tary of state, sent notes to all the car dinals urging on them the necessity of attending as the Pope was desirous of making q communication of ex ceptional gravity. Consequently none of the twenty five cardinals who were then in Rome was absent, even MgrS Oreglia, Parochi and LedOchowSki, all of whom have been on the sick list for some time, managing to attend. Only the cardinals and His Holiness were present. Even the trusted off cerS of the papal household, who are ordinarily present on these occasions, were excluded on Tuesday.
 The Pope spoke for an hour and half. After the reception each cardi- nal as he left was observed to have d folded paper sealed heavily with the papal arms. These mysterious pro- ceedings naturally aroused the deepest interest and are consuming Rome with curiosity. The correspondent, in the hope of throwing some light on the matter, called on Cardinal AIacchi. who is usually the most atfable and accessible of the Princes of the Church. but his Elninence absolutely declined to say a word on the subject.
 The private secretary of one of the members of the Sacred college, while not protesting to speak with authority expressed the opinion that the docu- ment contained the Pope's political testament, that is to say, it set forth his views as to his successor, and the policy of the church in matters in the immediate future. The document will not be opened until after Leo XIIIS death. A report current in vatican circles is to the effect that the Pope in handing the paper to each cardinal merely remarked that the seal would be broken at his death, which he had no reason to suppose would be delayed beyond this year, and that In view of the gravity of the outlook for the church it will be prepared for a con- clave. Messengers left Rome on Tues day with the documents for the for eign cardinals throughout Christen- dom.
 The delay in the publication of the encyclical on, Christian Democracy, which has caused good deal of com ment, was thus explained yesterday by Cardinal Agliardi, who has been assisting his Holiness in Its prepara- ton: At the last vatican reception l asked the Pope when he expected to be able to give the encyclical to the world. He replied that he had con sidered it necessary to introduce sev- eral further notifications in order to make it clearer and to leave no room for conflicting interpretations. We await added his Holiness, n favora- ble moment for publication. The affairs of the French chamber keep us very preoccupied. We must have a little patience
 Cardinal Agiiardi's personal opinion is that the encyclical will not be pub- lished until the question now at issue between the vatican and the French government and chamber of deputies is settled.