The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-22
WHERE THE BODY WILL REST.
Workmen Preparing Niche i'm the
Wall of ST. Peters.

ROME, July 21-Inside the magnificent
church of st. Peter to-day could be
heard the sound of hammer and chisel
already preparing Leo's temporary tomb.
A massive wooden platform had been
rolled in the. Basiica, reaching half way to
the ceiling 70 the left of the nave. Around
this stood gaping crowd. watching half
dozen swarthy workmen prepare the niche.
wherein Leos coffin will soon rest High
above the niche they had driven into the
solid masonry three enormous steel hooks.
from which the tackle will be operated to
hoist the coffin into place.
The resting place for the casket is a marble
slab, about fifteen feet above the pavement,
forming the upper easement of one of the
massive doors. On either side are great
marble pillars, while the light comes dimly
from above through two domes surrounded
by exquisite mosaics, showing the
apostles and saints and the other an angelic
chorus. The workmen pounded and called
out their commands in strange contrast with
the solemn surroundings. The interior OF the
church was as yet undraped with mourning.
The massive crimson hangings had been re-
moved. bringing out the CHASTITY whiteness
of the colossal marble nave. AT the further
end could be seen groups of priests kneeling
about the tomb of st. Peter, where scores
of little tapers burn increasingly. Only the
usual masses were said during the morning.
as the ceremonials in connection with the
death of Pope Leo have yet to be arranged.
Within the right nave still another prepa-
ration for the Pope's obsequies was going
on. This was the preparation of the Chapel
of the Holy Sacrament for receiving his
body after it's removal from the Vatican.
Cardinal Respighi, the vicar of Rome, had
given orders for these arrangements. AL
though Cardinal Oreglia has supreme COM
mand of the interests of the church, it is
Cardinal Respighi who has been given i'm
mediate charge of the personal affairs relat-
beautiful chapel was for the time being in
vaded by sweepers and cleaners, who
poured buckets of water on the mosaic
pavement and then began securing il with
pumice stone. The front of the chapel is
cut off from the main church by a massive
trelace through which the faithful can look
upon the altar within. This is of solid brass.
with heroic brass kneeling angels. Before
the altar is a very narrow space, where
Leo's coffin will be deposited when it comes
from the Vatican. This space is so small
that the foot of the casket will extend to the
iron trelace. The purpose of this arrange
ment is to carry out the ancient ceremony
by which the actual foot of the dead Pontiff
Will extend through the iron barriers to
permit the kneeling faithful to approach
and kiss the last remnant of former papal
authority through it.
The viscera of Pope Leo, which to-day
was placed in an earthern urn and pro-
visionally deposited in the crypt of st.
Peters, was removed at midnight to a mag
nificent, upon which. carried by Monsign-
ors Mazolliny and Angle. was taken in a
Vatican carriage to the Church of st. Vim
cent. The mysteriously picturesque scene
was such is only possible in Rome. The
carriage was met at the door of the church
by priests carrying torches which fiared
in the breeze and having weird effect on
the faces of those present. The viscera of
all the Pops except Plus TX were de-
posted in this church, which was selected
because 1T stands in the parish of the
Quirinal, formerly the home of the Popes.
The viscera of Plus was not taken there,
as it was feared that some untoward Incl
dent might take place during its trans
portation. The peaceful manner in which
the ceremony was performed tonight is
regarded as a fresh proof of the improved
relations of church and state.