The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-21
POPE LEO HAS PASSED AWAY.

CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE)
bed was surrounded By practically all the
members of the Sacred College now in Rome
and the whole papaI court. while the Pom
tins nephews remained in the papal library
until they received WORD from the doctors
which announced his last expiring breath
was approaching. Then they moved silently
within the death chamber. some standing.
some kneeling. all awaiting the moment OF
dissolution. In the ante-chamber had as
sernbled the high eccIesiastics. members of
the diplomatic corps and representatives
Of the papal aristocracy, awaiting the an
nouncement that the final moment had
come
Profound silence reigned in the Pope's
room. only broken by the doctors rising
10 render their expiring patient more com
Portable. by the sobs OF the ever faithful
valet. Pho Contra, or the murmured prayers
Of Mgr. Pifferi. the papal confesSor, hinsei1
eighfy-four years old, VINO had 10 De as
sisted TO the bedside. Softly he recited the
prayers for the dying. the Pontif at one
moment appearing TO follow them as
though conscious of what was transpiring,
but he could not speak Then the dying
Pope murmured something 10 himself In
which, those bending over him heard the
WORKS Father" and Mother
DIR Lnpponi. who almost constantly had
his fingers on the Pope's pulse. felt II grow
gradually weaker and weaker. and at the
same time the Pontiffs extremities began
to get cold his lips became blue. mis- eyes
sank more deeply into the head, his breath
ing became even more difficult and there
were Strange ratings IN his throat
3GESSED ALL PRESENT.
Fin, ~ the Pope was asked to bless his
nephews and all the others present He at
tempted TO raise himself and the extreme
emaciation OF his person. covered with a
fine nightshirt, was rendered more pro-
nounced by the surroundings. The portieres
dividing the door were drawn back 10 the
utmost to admit as much air as possible.
while the light altering through the green
shades of the window rendered his sunken
eyes and shrunken features absolutely
CHASTITY.
II was a most solemn moment. The head
OF the Pontif, 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 benedie-
earnestly absorbed in deep affiiction. ven
Grafton and weeping, TO even make
movement
The doctors again examined the dying
Holy Father, and this time found that he
was at the extreme limit Of his powers OF
respiratfo His eyes began to become dull
and clouded, and Leo XIII entered into
the real agony Of death, which was recog-
rized by all present kneeling.
The last conscious act OF the Pontin was
TO turn his eyes toward the great cruciflx
on the wall, after which he suffered from
a paroxism OF choking. during which he
passed away.
Then the silence of the awe-stricken as
semblage was broken by the sonorous,
solemn voice of Cardinal Zerafino Van
nutell, the grand penitentiary, informing the
requiem aeternam crest eternaD. IhlS was
the signal for an outburst of tears, and the
sound of weeping which could not longer be
repressed, all the kneeling prelates ana
others kissed the dead hand-that nand
which had dispensed so many DEMENT'S, CHAR
titles and benedictions.
Outside the death chamber expectation
was intense, but the sight of the sorrowlnS
faces of those leaving the room was SUM-
cient without words TO spread the sad news,
which was not long in spreading through
out Rome.
The occurrences I'm the death chamber i'm
medlately following the Popes demise were
Of impressive solmenity. Couriers had Deen
dispatched to summon those who are dele
gated TO perform the first religious omces
toward the dead Pope, and soon the chant
ing of the Franciscan monks was neard
as, two by two. with coarse. brown hats
in hand and sandals. they proceeded TO the
room In which Leo lay dead. From Time
immemorial the Franciscans have been PEN
itentiaries of ST. Peters. Following them
came the Noble Guard to watch over the
Pontiffs remains. the briiliancy of their
uniforms contrasting strikingly with the
sombre attire of the quantity garoed monks
and the solemn dignity of the chamber It
self The only sound heard was the meas
ured chanting of the psalms of penitence
by group Of monks kneeiing beside the
couch OF death Two Noble Guards took up
npositions at the foot of the couch and stood
drawn and reversed. pointing TO the floor.
The death chamber preserved much the
same appearance as II did at the time of
the final illness of the Pope. 1t Is situated
on the third floor of the Vatican, the apart
Inents fronting the splendid piazza OF ST.
Peters. and the window of the room COM
manding visw- of the tall obelisk and
playing fountains. with Rome stretching
OF beyond the Tiber. Across the middle or
the room hang heavy draperies. partly con-
cealing the bed on which lay the silent form
of the dead Pontiff BY the side of the low
bed burned number of candles, and from
above looked down the picture of the Ma
donna, with the infant Christ In her arms.
Leo's desk was closed, but some of the
books on religious topics which he kept
remained on it, The body lay exactly as
Ii was at the moment of the Pope's last
expiring breath A white veil was thrown
over the dead mans face while awaiting the
solemn entrance of the camereng0. who
was to officially pronounce the Pontif ac-
tualIy dead
The gruesome details of the embalming
will not be performed until after the lapse
of fwenty-four hours Then the body will
be robed in full pontifical vestments Tor
the imposing funeral ceremonies.