The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-22
Death cf the Pope.

CIV the Associated Press.)

Washington, Apostolic Delegate fdlcohlo,
was conveyed to him at quarter OF one
o'clock today through the medium OF an
Associated Press bulletin Four hours
later the official confirmation of the news
came. When the Associated Press bulletin
was handed to Bishop Falconio he was
having his midday meal in company with
Bishop Baker and Auditor Marchetti, OF
the Apostolic Delegation. All expressed
deep sorrow and seemed to feel shocked
notwithstanding they had expected the an
nouncement any moment During the at
ternoon the delegation was visited by
many of the Catholic clergy and others.
Among the callers were representatives of
the German and Russian Embassies, both
of whom called in state to express the
sympathy of their respective nations.
The official announcement of the Pope's
death was carried to the legation at 4:45
o'clock by a messenger from the Postal
Telegraph Company
Delegate Falconio Immediately prepared
and gave out the following address to the
archbishops of the Catholic Church, of
whom there are ninety in America.
Apostolic Delegation United States of
America.
Washington. d. c., July goth, 1903.
Your Lordship: 1t is my painful duty
to convey to you the sad intelligence of the
death of our Holy Father, the Pope, which
occurred today AS in life so in death the
august Pcntiff has shown such wonderful
example of serious thought, o. determine
ton of character, of sweetness of heart, of
piety and Christian fortitude as to evoke
in all lands the most striking manifesto
ton of reverence and respect. Leo XIII
is dead In him the world has lost pro-
found scholar, distinguished statesman, a
lover and protector of right and Justice;
has lost one whose power for the amel-
ioration of society has been exercised with
such cosnummate skill and earnestness as
to be felt everywhere and to gain for him
universal admiration. Hence his death is
deplored by all without distinction of ma
tionality or creed. However, for us Cath
olics the loss is greater, and consequently
still more keenly felt. In Leo XIII, be-
sides the scholar, the statesman, the phil
anthropist. we have lost our spiritual
father, the supreme pastor of the church,
him who during his long pontificate has
watched with incessant solicitude for our
spiritual welfare and has shared no labor
to proclaim farther and wider the kingdom
of his Divine Master. His reign recalls to
our mind the brightest days of the papacy
His noble figure has earned one of the
most glorious places in history
While we bow reverently before the
mortal remains Of our august Pontiff and
deplore the great loss which his death
has caused TO the church, let public and
private prayers be raised to Heaven IN
every diocese and in every parish for the
eternal repose of that noble soul. As TO
the public prayers your Lordship may
prescribe such SURFACES as your piety may
inspire. With sentiments of highest es-
TEEN and profound respect. i beg leave
to remain our devoted servant in Christ.
(Signed) D. FALCONIO,
Archbishop Of Laryssa, Delegate Apostolic.
Monsignor Faleonio requested that this
address to the bishops would be accepted
as his statement concerning the death of
the Pope.
Bishop Rocker and DR.. Marchetti also
expressed profound sorrow.
The State Department, upon learning
of the death of the Pope. sent the follow
ing cablegram to Cardinal Rampolla:
Cardinal Rampolla. the Vatican, Rome
The President desires me to express his
profound sense OF the loss which the
Christian world has sustained in the death
of His Holiness, Leo XIII. BY his lofty
character, his great learning, and his com
prehensive charity he adorned his exalted
station and made his reign one of the
most illustrious as it has been one of the
longest in the history of the Catholic
church.
(signed) John HAY"
he - Al II. Oh, will
celebrate pontifeal mass for the repose OF
the soul of the Pope in the cathedral of
their respective dioceses and funeral
masses will be said in all Catholic churches.
A solemn pontihcal' requiem for His
Holiness. Leo XIII will be celebrated by
the Apostolic Delegate, Monsignor Fal-
COMO at ST. Mary's church on Wednesday,
July 22nd, at half past nine o'clock in
the morning. The sermon for the occa-
sion will be delivered by Rev. Charles W.
Currier, the pastor.
After the interment of the Pope prayers
will be held IN the Catholic churches, ask
ing that divine guidance may attend the
labors of the consistory in their election
of successor to Leo Kill
/ Finally the Pope was asked to bless his
nephews and all the others present. He
attempted to raise himself and the extreme
emaciation of his person. covered with a
fine night shirt, was rendered more pro-
nounced by the surroundings. The por-
tiers dividing the door were drawn back to
the utmost. to admit as much air as pos
sible, while the light altering through the
green shades of the window rendered his
sunken eyes and shrunken features abso.
lutely CHASTITY.
1t was most solemn moment, the head
of the Pontiff with its white skull-cap, no
whittier than the fringe of silvery hair, ris-
ing above the crimson coverlet. his hand
raised in the familiar gesture of benedic-
ton, the kneeling assemblage being too
earnestly absorbed in deep affection, ven
Grafton and weeping to even make move
ment.
WITH EYES ON THE CROSS.
The last conscious act of the Pontiff was
to turn his eyes towards the great crucifix
on the wall. after which he suffered from
paroxysm Of choking during which he
passed away
Then the silence of the awe-stricken as