Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-07-29
DEATH OF POPE LEO.
VENERABLE HEAD OF THE CATH
OLIC WORLD IS NO MORE.
Statesman, Rufer, Diplomat, Author,
MoraIist, Priest, Bishop, and for a
Quarter of Century the Spiritual
Head of ESQ, 900, 900 Catholics.


Pope Leo MIL, for quarter Of cen
fury the spiritual head of 10000 600
Catholics. is dead The pontiff was in
his 94th year. A 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 Or. Lapponi. DIR.
Mazzoni. Count Pecci, his nephew, and
the high dIgnitares Of the church, the
venerable pontiif has passed quietly
away. Intense Stiffness peFyaded the
barely furnished bedroom la the Vatican
at Rome, where the psl.tiff 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 the fatigue Of the drive he took in
the Vatican gardens ON "Wednesday, July
j. His medical attendants, Drs. Lapponi
and Mazzoni, advised against the taking
Of this drive. but the determination Of
Tire Pope TO look over the gardens he
had loved so long and so well could not
be gainsaid. On his return from this
drive of an hour aud half he showed
signs Of exhaustion. From this time his
frail life haG been ebbing like the pass
ing of a low wind.
By Friday morning his holiness had
developed what his physicians described
as senile pneumonia. 1t was the FIRST
time in the history Of his long and events
full life that the breakdown Of his won
derful system seemed imminent. His
stomach refused to act. His lungs con-
gested. Breathing seemed impossible
The most heroic restoratises were APP
piled and brought some relief. The ILL
ness FIRST described as senile pneumonia
soon developed into pleuro- pneumonia,
thc :sleura, or pc,abrane surrounding the
l1ng, be,emiag inhalqed. From the time
this symptom developed his holiness lac
lowering on the brink If eternity.
Twice during his last illness ii became
necessary TO perform operations on the
Pope to give him reli, e After the sec
end operation the Pope gradually gained
strength until the following Sunday. By
Saturday afternoon he was so much bet
ter that many at the Vatican hoped for
his recovery, On Thursday, Friday and
Saturday he held conferences iR his
chamber with Cardinal RaInpolla and
other prelates regarding the affairs of
the church. and on saturday with the
permission of his physicians, he received
a yisR srem two of his nieces.
On Monday night, July 6, he sank 50
low that his physicians thought he was
dying. He then received extreme unc-
ton. the last rite Of the church for the
dying. The following Saturday and again
Sunday he heard mass read.
Thus brayely fighting to prolong his
life Of usefulness on earth aud serenely
awaiting the summons that should call
him 70 eternity, Pope Leo XIII. sank
peacefully into his long rest
Notwithstanding his physical suffer
ings the Pope's mind remained active and
brilliant almost 10 the last. He appoint
ed Mgr NolpOni to the vacant sec
reharyship Of the Consitorial congre-
cation, an appointment the importance
of which is readily seen when it is con-
sidered that on the Pope's death the
duties of the secretary of state are i'm
mediately assumed by the secretary of
the congregation. Thus with his eyes
looking 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 a relative, Count Pecci,
having settled all my affairs. l feel
| have done all in my power for the
good Of the church and of humanity"
And yet N Pope Leo as he calmly
faced the inevitable end there was my.ch
Of the human side of our nature. He
made eager inquiries as to the kilograms
of sympathy and inquiry received from