Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-07-24
DEATH OF POPE LEO.
VENERABLE HEAD OF THE CATH
OLIC WORLD Is NO MORE.
Statesman, Ruler, Diplomat, Author,
Moralist, Priest, Bishop, and for a
Quarter of Century the Spiritual
Head of 100000, 900 Catholics.

Pope Leo MIL, for quarter of cen
fury the spiritual head of 250,000,000
Catholics is dead. The pontff was in
his Oath year. AS statesman, ruler, dip
lomat, author and moralist he was great
iy beloved by his adherents, and the
wide world, Irrespective of creed, or race,
or grade of civilization, expresses sorrow
ing sympathy.
In the presence Of DR.. Lapponi, DR..
Mazzoni, Count Pccci, his nephew, and
the high dignitaIies of the church, the
venerable pontiff has passed quietly
away. Intense stiffness pervaded the
barely furnished bedroom in the Vatican
at Rome where the pontiff lay, broken
only by the occasional sob that could not
be restrained by some one of those who
surrounded the deathbed. This silence
lasted even after all was over, and was
broken only after the physicians had
made the final examination and had an
nounced the demise.
The final illness Of his holiness began
with tho fatigue of the drive he took in
the Vatican gardens on Wednesday, July
!. His medical attendants, Drs. Lapponi
and Mazzon, advised against the taking
of this drive, but the determination of
the Pope to look over the gardens he
had loved so long and so well could not
DO gainsaid. On his return from this
drive of an hour and half he showed
signs of exhaustion. From this time his
frail life had been ebbing like the pass
ing of n low wind.
by Friday morning his holiness had
developed what his physicians described
as senile pneumonia. 1t was the first
8, =
f,l life that the breakdown of his won
derful system seemed imminent. His
stomach refused to net. His lungs CON
gcsted Breathing seemed impossible.
The most heroic restorativcs were APP
piled and brought some relief The i'll
ness first described as seniie pneumonia
soon developed into pleuro- pneumonia,
abe pleura. or membrane surrounding the
lung, becoming inhamed. From the time
ahis symptom developed his holiness lay
lowering on the brink of eternity.
Twice during his last illness it became
necessary to perform operations on the
Pope to give him relief. After the sec
ond operation the Pope gradually gained
strength until the following Sunday. BY
Saturday afternoon he was so much bet
ter that many ut the Vatican hoped for
his recovery. On Thursday, Friday and
Saturday he held conferences in his
chamber with Cardinal Rampolla and
other prelatcs regarding the affairs of
the church, and on Saturday. with the
permission of his physicians, he received
a visit from two of his nieccs.
On Monday night. July g. he sank so
low that his physicians thought he was
dying. He then received extreme unc-
zion, the last rite of the church for the
dying. The following Saturday and again
Sunday he heard mass read.
Thus bravcly fighting to prolong his
Afe of usefulness on earth and sercncly
awaiting the summons that should call
him to eternity, Pope Leo XIII. sank
peacefully into his long rest.
Notwithstanding his physical suffer
Sings the Pope's mind remained active and
brilliant almost to the last. lie appoint
cd Mgr. Nolponi to the vacant sec
retaryship of the Constorial congre-
CATION, an appointment the importance
of which is readily seen when it is con-
Sidcred that on the Pope's death the
duties of the secretary of state are inn
mcdiately assumed by the secretary of
the congregation. Thus with his eyes
booking into the face of death he inter
ested himself in guarding against any
confusion consequent upon his passing
away.
The Pope had no fear Of the final dis
solution. He spoke of life and death
with equal serenity. Il am ready to de-
part" he said to n relative. Count Pecci,
having settled all my affairs. l feel
l have done all in my power for the
good of the church and of humanity"
And yet in Pope Leo us he calmly
faced the inevitable end there was much
of the human side of our nature. He
made eager inquiries as to the kilograms
Of sympathy and inquiry received from