Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-21

| as the jubilee present of the CatEoilc
'The celebration Of the 25th anniversary
OF the late Popes coronation occurred IN
impressveness, and grandeur OF the
Catholic church and, April 49, the Pom
| tficate of the late Pope. surpassed in
length that of St. Peter, Leo xtIi hay
ing been elected Pope % years. months
and { days, known as The years of
Peter
the latter part of April, and Emperor
William was received by the late Pontiff,
early in May.
The final scene in the death chamber
was profoundly impressive. The Popes
| death having been expected since noon,
| his death bed was surrounded by prac-
tcally all the members of the Sacred
College now in Rome and the whole
Papal court while the Pontiffs neph-
ews remained in the Papal library un-
til they received word from the doctors
which announced that his expiring
breath was approaching. Then they
moved silently within the death cham
| Der, some standing, some kneeing, all
awaiting the awful moment of disso-
luton.
Profound silence reigned in the
| Pope's bedroom, only broken by the
sobs of the ever faithful valet, Pho Cen
ira, or the murmured prayers of Mgr.
Pifferi, the Papal confessor, himself 81
years Of age, who had to be assisted to
the bedside. Softly he recited the
prayers for the dying. the Pontiff at
one moment appearing to follow them
as though conscious of what was trans
piring, but he could not speak. Then
the dying Pope murmured something
to himself in which those bending over
him heard the words Father,
! Mother"
Finally the Pope was asked to bless
his nepheTs and all the others present.
He attempted to raise himself and the
extreme emaciation of his person COW
cred with a fine nightshirt, was rem
dered more pronounced by the sur
roundings.
1t was most solemn moment. The
head of the Pontiff, with its white
skull cap, no whittier than the fringe of
silver hair, rising above the crimson
i coverlet, his hand raised in the familiar
gesture of benediction, the kneelng as
sembla se being too earnestly absorbed
in deep afIiiction, veneration and weep
ing to even make a movement.
The doctors again examined the dying
Holy Father and this time found that
ne was at the extreme limit of his pow
ers of respiration. His eyes began to
become dull and clouded and Leo NH
entered into the real agony of death.
The last conscious act of the Pontiff
was to turn his eyes towards the great
cruciflx on the wall, after which he suf-
fered from a paroxysm of choking, dur
ing which he passed away.
Then the silence of the awe-stricken
asseInblage was broken by the sonorous,
solemn voice of Cardinal Serafino Van
nutelli, the grand nenitentiaIy, intoning
the requiem aeternam crest eternaD.
This was the signal for an outburst of
tears and the sound of weeping which
could no longer be repressed, all the
Eneeling prelates and others kissing the
dead hand.
Outside the death chamber expecta-
ton was intense, but the sight of the
sorrowing faces of those leaving the
room was sufficient without words, to
announce the sad news, which was not
long in spreading throughout Rome.
The occurrences in the death chamber
. Immediately following the Popes de-
mise We're of impressive solemnity.
ro,.riers had been dispatched to sum
mon those who are delegated to perform
the first religious offices toward the
[ dead Pore and soon the chanting of the
franciscan monks was heard as, two
l nv two, in coarse brown habits and
1 sandaled feet, they proceeded to the
room in which Leo lay dead Following
them came the noble guard to watch
over the Pontff's remains, the brill
5 liancy of their uniforms contrasting
2 striknglv with the sombre attire of the
? quantity rarhed monks and the solemn
! dignity of the chamber itself. Two
e noble guards took up positions at the
i foot Of the couch and stood there, rigid
n and silent as statues, with swords
drawn and reversed.
The body lay exactly as it was at the
moment of the PoDe'S last expiring
= breath. A white veil was thrown over
the dead mans face, while awaiting the
! solemn entrance of the Camerlengo.
i who was to officially pronounce the
Pontiff actually dead. The gruesome
: details of the embalming will not be
: performed until after the lapse of "a
hours. Then the body will be robed in
: full Pontifcal vestments for tht i'm
1t posing ceremonies.
: The great piazza of st. Peters was
II soon a scene Of wild confusion. AS
o word of the Pope's death became
$ known. although the public had day af-
;, ter day expected the tidings, the shock
n of the actual event was none the less
- profound. Everywhere people stopped
o to bless themselves and to say whis-
q pered prayers, while here and there
!: were seen women on their knees before
Il the street sh,ines offering prayers for
Il soul that had just taken it's flight.
It Within the ma ssive colonnade front
ing St. Peters, great crowds surged t.
. the very doors of the Vatican, ever
d struggling to gain access to the CORR
g doris leading to the death chamber
y, Across the entrance to the colonnad'
q hung the massive chains. which are us
d ually down to permit the free circuia
e ton of visitors. These ponderous iroi
:. barriers were now looped across tn
it entrance and behind them stood stron'
t. detachments of Swiss guards with f1Xe'
"a bayonets, presenting solid wall
e iron and steel against further intrusion