The Washington times., 1902-02-02
SUCCESSION A CAUSE
OF WORRY TO LEO
Pope Fears Follower Will
Abandon His Policies.
TALKS OFTEN WITH CARDINALS
Men Who Are Considered Possible
Choice of the Sacred College Re
gnrdcd With Feelings of Uneasi-
ness by POntiT.
(Copyrighted.)

tCopyrighted.)
ROME. Feb. 1.-The recent revival OF
the publication of reports of the i'm
minence cf the Pope's death has led to
enquiries being made of the Cheyalier
Contra, valet de chambre to his Holi-
ness. The official declared that the Pope's
health is excellent.
But" he added, my master. for some
time past, has spoken almost solely of
his mortal end as though it were very
near. The Pope concerns himself daily
with the questions of his death and sue
cessor He has settled all arrangements
for his funeral down to the minutest de-
tails.
Family Must Ask Permit.
He says that the members of his fam
lily and not the papal government must
ask the Italian Government for the neces-
sary permission for interment in the
basilica of st. John Lateran. A monu-
mental tomb is ready to be put in its
place. 1t Is the work Of the famous
sculptor, Giuseppe Luchetti. and has cost
900 lire which has all been paid
correspondent had the privilege Of
viewing the tomb in the sculptor's studio
this week. 1t is a very beautiful work OF
art. The sarcophagus is surmounted by
the recumbent figure of Leo XIII in full
pontifical robes.
Statues About SnrcOphnsus.
Guarding the tomb are life size statues
of st. Thomas and ST. Francis. and also
a statue of the Virgin and two angels.
all in white Carrara marble.
early morning. with an entire absence of
ceremony. By the Pope's express order
the actual casket in which the body will
rest will be of plain white wood.
The Pope leaves scarcely anything to
his relatives in his will. He quite re-
Gently divided amongst them his purely
personal estate, SO that his bequests are
mere gifts of remembrance. All the
money he now possesses, about 500 900, ,0OG
lire. he bequeaths to the treasury of the
Holy See.
Fenrs for His Work
All these things are perfectly familiar
to the inmates OF the Vatican, for it is
the Pope himself who constantly talks
about them. He speaks quite as freely
and as often of his successor on the papal
throne. His consuming fear is that his
political work. so persistently and
patiently performed and so fruitful Of
practical benefit to the church, should be
nullified by some rash inheritor
He would like to have the assurance
that he will be succeeded by Cardinal
Rampolla, but he knows that to be al
most impossible, and failing il. he would
prefer Cardinal Gotti or Cardinal Wives
Ytuo. He disapproves in particular of
the candidatures of Cardinals Vanutelli
Svampa, and Oreglia. Yet one of these
three will probably be the next Pope.
Talks of Succession.
His'Holiness regards Cardinals oreglia
and Vanutelli as violent and danger
Gus, and Cardinal Svampa as too much
of a priest ard too little OF a diplomat.
Nearly every day the aged Pontiff receives
groups of three or four cardinals and
paternally talks to them of the succession
and exhorts them to put aside personal
ambition and work for the good of the
Church.
He warns them always that the Church
is passing through a critical period, and
ehat any act OF imprudence might have
terrible consequences. Leo XIIIs bette
noir is Cardinal Oreglia, who is perhaps
the most likely to be Pope of all the
members of the Sacred College.
story OF Alleged Dispute.
He has frequent disputes with Cardinal
Oreglia, and the story is told in the
Vatican that a short time ago when Leo
reproached the cardinal for the public
use of politically Incorporate language.
Cardinal Oreglia tore off his cardinals
robe and threw 1t at the POpe's feet
More than a year ago the formation in
Rome of Catholic association deIiber-
ate!y designed to fight socialistic labor
organizations was announced. The move
ment has since assumed enormous pro-
portions, thanks to the benevolent inter
est OF the Pope and the active assist
ance of the clergy throughout the
country.
Many Branches Formed.
There are now 1000 branches. averaging
perhaps 200 members each. whose energy
and aggressiveness have thoroughly
alarmed the Socialists. The hour for bat
tie WI sound when the Pope removes the
ban which he imposed thirty years ago
and the clericals are permitted once more
to take an active part in political cleo
tions.