Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-07-21
Ceremonies Whereby Highest
Office In Catholic World
Is Bestowed
MANNER OF HIS ELECTION
How, After Elaborate Services observ-
ed While the Dead PreIate Lies in
State, the Sacred concIave Chooses
a New Spiritual Leader-The Strict
est Secusion is Enforced.

Rome. July 21.-On the official mott
ffcation, by the pope's medical attend
ants. that his holiness is in a critica
condition. the sacrament is set forth ir
all the churches IN Rome. At st. Pc
ter's it is exposed on the high altar
covered with cloth of white lawn
which is only removed on the death OF
the pope.
Meanwhile summons are sent by tel
egraph to the foreign or absent card
inals. and those in Rome are calico
to the vatican
On the death occurring. the first stef
TO be taken is the official verificatior
that the vicar Of Christ is no more
This act, which is performed with
certain prescribed ceremony, devolres
upon the cardinal camerlingo tcham
berlain to whom, on the demise of the
holy father, the supreme authority fol
the time being is committed. Attireo
in full canonicals. His Eminence. at
tended by the cardinals. prelates and
laymen OF high rank at the papa
court. proceeds to the chamber OF
death. Knocking at the door With 4
wand of silver, the cardinal camerlingo
enters the room, and advancing to the
couch on which lies the dead figure OF
the pope touches the breast and fore
head and then, sinking on his knees
proclaims in loud voice: "Dominus
Papa Noster Mortuus Est The fish
ernan's ring and the other papal seals
are then handed TO the cardinal cam
eriingo, together with a document, for
mally attesting the death of the pope
AS soon as this ceremony is accom-
plshed, the body is embalmed and at
tired in the pontifical vestments. as q
preliminary TO the public exposition OF
the remains in St. Peters. The body
which Is committed to the charge OF
the papal chamberlains. is first of all
taken TO the Sistine chapel and thence
by covered way to the great basilica
where 1t lies in state for three days In
the chapel of the holy sacrament, re-
posing on a richly draped couch. Four
members OF the Noble Guard watch
over the remains. day and night. with
posed that the faithful in filing pas;
can kiss the feet of the dead pontiff
while every church in Rome is draped
In mourning and masses for the repose
Of the soul of the departed, together
with the special prayer for the guild
ance of the church and Of the new
pope, are said constantly. During this
time the arrangements for the hold
ing OF the conclave are being perfected
The ten sacred congregations meet on
the third day from the pope's death
in the hall of consistory and there APP
point three members OF their body, a
cardinal bishop, a cardinal priest and
a cardinal deacon, TO form, with the
cardinal camerlingo. the temporary
state executive. On the first meeting
OF the cardinals, the cardinal Gamer
lingo reads the papal bulls touching
the election OF pope and then. in the
presence of all, breaks the fisherman's
ring and signets of the deceased pom
tiff.
The coneiave.
On the tenth or at the latest the
twelfth day after the death of the pope
the conclave assemblies for the cleo
ton OF the new pontiff. If precedent
is followed, the conclave Is held at the
beautiful Sistine chapel within the
walls OF the vatican Built by Pope
Sixtus ~, this famous church has
been adorned by the hands of the
greatest of Italian painters. On the
walls are the works OF Signorelii, Boti-
celli and Perugino. but these are
dimmed by the splendor of the fres-
Goes of Michael Angelo, illustrating
the creation and the last judgement
Connected with the chapel, which is
itself on the first floor of the vatican
are the large galleries which are fitted
up for the reception Of the cardinals
and their attendants and the arrange
ments are such that when their emf
nences have entered the place of con-
clave, the entire section Of the vatican
set apart for the purpose can be shut
off entirely from the outside world
the intention being that the members
of this exalted council shall be SUBJ
jected to no mundane influences Each
cardinal is allowed the services of a
secretary and an attendant, who while
the conclave lasts occupy rooms ad-
jacent to the particular cells allotted
to their masters. On the day fixed for
the meeting of the conclave, the card
inals assemble to hear special mass
of the holy spirit and to take the oaths
of faithfulness and secrecy When
this is accomplished all the members
of the sacred congregations go in SOL
emn procession, two by two, and fol-
lowed by the long retinue of attend
ants, to the conclave, while the in
spring strains of the Veni Creator
Spiritus are chanted. Once within the
confines of the conclave the massive
doors are shut with double locks and
from that moment until the new pom
tiff is elected, no person Is permitted
to pass in or out The meals for the
assemblage are prepared within the
walls Of the vatican and are delivered
thru q wicket gate. or rather case
ment let into the great door. 1t is here.
also, that, on the first day of the con-
clave a committee of cardinals APP
pointed ty the whole body, gives audi
ence TO the foreign ENJOYS. This, how
ever, takes place before the conclave
has actually met for the papal election.
The Sistsne chapel is especially fitted
for the holding of this momentous
council of the church. The stalls for
the cardinals ranged on each side, are
surmounted by canopies of cloth In the
ecclesiastical colors. and at the far end,
opposite the high altar, are places as
signed to the secretaries. ON the altar
itself, or on table in front of 1t, Is "A
chalice OF silver. on which rests the
pix containing the host When mass
has been said. and all is prepared the