The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-20
DEATH OF Plus TX.


During the night of Feb. 6, 1878, Pope Plus
TX was taken seriously sick. Early in the
morning of Feb. DIR. Ceccarelli informed
Mgr. Martinelli the Holy Fathers confess
sor and sacristan, that the Pope's condition
was sufficiently grave to warrant prompt
administration of the last sacrament. Car
dinal Sfmeoni, the secretary of state, on
hearing of the Popes relapse, sent immedi-
ateiy for the cardinal camerlengo, Gioachi-
Plazzo Falconieri Cardinal Pecci, on re-
ceiving the message. summoned his great
friend and adviser, Mgr. Catoldi and the
where the future Pope made his confession
to his confessor. Padre Giuseppe. They
then fastened to the Vatican, which they
reached about midday. Notwithstanding
that every preeaution had been taken TO
keep secret the news of the condition of the
Pope, the alarming intelligence spread rap
had the right of entree FASTENED to the Vat
lean for the latest news. By o'clock the
ante-camera was full of bishops, prelates
and diplomats, including the then Bishop
of Clifton who, on being informed that the
last agony had begun, invited all present to
join in reciting the rosary for the dying
Pontiff
In an inner room, sparsely furnished. and
amid no signs of temporal sovereignty, sur
rounded by Cardinal Bilio, the grand peni-
Tertiary. several cardinals; signor Ceccarslli
ing on a humble bed. About $3.50 p IN.
Cardinal Bilio. who had never left the
Pope's side since the previous night. began
repeating the Recommendation of a De-
parting Soul" and, on reaching the Act
of Contrition," the sinking Pontiff. with
great effort, muttered. Col vostro santo
auto" And as the Ave Maria was ringing
that same evening Plus TX breathed his
last.
When all was over Mgr Macchi and Car
dinals Manning and Howard left the death
chamber to announce the sad news to those
congregated in the ante-camera. "Un altro
santo in paradise" (another saint in para
dise) escaped from some ones lips, and this
spontaneous epitaph of the dead Pontiff was
passed from mouth to mouth.
The usual ceremonies incident to the death
OF a Pope were then performed, and. follow
ing the ceremony of recognition, Signor
Ceccarelli began embalming the corpse.
which work was not completed until nearly
8 o'clock on the morning of the Sth. Toward
evening Of Feb 8 the body of Plus TX,
vested in full pontificals. including the gold.
inter. was taken in procession from the
Vatican to st. Peters, and consigned to the
charge of the Most Reverend Chapter of
the Basiica. For four days the body lay in
state, and from morn till night an incessant
stream of people passed before the guarded
ratings of the chapel to take a last look at
a Pope they had known so long and loved
so well.
last funeral rite of Piux TX was begun.
Once again the mortal remains of the Pope
were carried iii procession before being
finally hoisted into niche and provision
ally entombed almost opposite the monu-
ment of the last of the Stuarts in the Vat
lean Basilica.
During the six days which elapsed be-
tween the death and burial of Plus TX the
Camerlengo and his brother cardinals were
not idle. Many matters of grave import to
the church were earnestly discussed. and as
early as the afternoon of Feb. S the de-
cision of the cardinals to hold the conclave
in the Vatican was publicly announced
Owing to the exigencieS of the political sit
uation, it deemed prudent TO adopt
several notifications in respect of the vest
ing of the cardinals present in Rome. and
to dispense with all but the most necessary
ceremonials prescribed sede vacante. The
dress to be used by the bishop and the
prelatura was settled on the 18th, and or
the following day the project of ceremonies
presented the briefs to those entitled to adj
mi SSion N the cOnclaye