The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-12

q renresentative of the Associated Press at the place of St. John Lateran this af- ternoon and in the course of an interest ing conversation confirmed the report that the Pope had recently expressed wish to be buried in the magnificent Lateran hasiilica, which has been under Cardinal Satoilrs charge since his return from the United States
 q saw His Holiness only last night" said the Cardinal, and he was very, very weak. He has began to lose the power of enunciating his words clearly and his tongue seems to have some strange impeachment. but his mind con- tinues to be perfectly clear and he does not appear to have any realizatfon of the gravity of his case. For instance. the congregation of rites. over which the Pope presides had fixed time for con- sidering the question of the canonization of Joan of Arc. The holy father kept this in mind and. notwithstanding his condition, sent for Amici, his Secretary. and directed him to have the meeting tenn porarily put off, saying he greatly re- gretted not being able to meet the con gregation at the appointed time next Tuesday. but he would certainly be able to meet the congregation soon.
 Cardinal Satolli cited this incident as showing that the pontiff regarded his present illness as one from which he will recover, dL lcaSL SuIIICioutly tO iO5uihS the direction of important questions Of church policy. But, after mentioning the matter. the cardinal shook his head mournfully and said he felt fully satis- fled that the Holy Father could not live more than a few days longer.
 Although his mind Is perfectly clear. and wonderfully vigorous" the cardinal added, 'the pontiff's outward evidence of strength Is deceptive and Is in reality due tr he ,,nrounttfi,cx Of Qtimnlant9. In- deed, the constant administration of sttm- ulants practically sustains his strength and life at this time. and immediately af- ter the effects of the stimulants passes away he relapses into extreme weak ness''
 The cardinal was asked whether the Pope made a testamentary request re- garding his final resting place and he re- piled:
 Yes, but that was some time ago, per- haps a year back. When he made his will he expressed a desire that after he had rested the usual period of one year at St. Peters that his final resting place should be here at the church of St. John Lateran. Then I saw the Holy Father only a sort time before his sicknes. and he again brought the matter up. saying with earnestness that he wished to re- pose here. But I endeavored to dismiss such gloomy thought from his mind by telling him there was no need of consid- ering such a thing at that time."
 Cardinal Satoli then spoke of his stay in America and his black eyes snapped with real satisfaction as he referred to the slight cooiness which occurred in cer- tain quarters when he first arrived in the United States and how later his coming was more generally and agreeably well comed He spoke of the various grave church questions which he had been call ed upon to solve and seemed gratified with the results achieved.
 T always liked to see Americans" he remarked. And when they are good enough to say they want me to come again to America. assure them 1t is my earnest hope to do so."