The Somerset reporter., 1903-07-23
Death of Leo XIII

The pope died shortly after four
o'clock Monday p. m. His last moments
were preceded by period of insensibil-
ity Around the bedside at the final
moment were the cardinals, the relatives
and members of the papal court. Before
lapsing into Inconsistencies the dying
pontiff feebly moved his lips, his last
articulate words being those used in be
slowing a benediction. Gradually the
shadow of death spread over the pontiff,
his extremities became cold, his features
assumed the fixed rigidity of death, and
Dr. Lapponi noted his last f1uttering
heart beats, which gradually became
slower and slower, until they finally
stopped. The news of the pope's death
spread rapidly throughout Rome, and
caused a most profound sensation. The
whole city was in mourning.
large crowd has gathered about the
Vatican, but perfect order prevails there
and elsewhere in Rome. The pope's
death agony was short and was termi.
mated by paroxysm of choking. After
a short interval Cardinal Serafino Van
nutelli intoned the requiem, amidst the
weeping of those present. Then all
kissed Pope Leo's hand before leaving
the chamber.
The public has followed closely the
reports of the sickness of the dis
tingushed sufferer since its beginning
July l People of all nations and religions
have have had deep interest in and sym
pathy for Pope Leo during his distress
ing illness.
During tho morning of Monday the
pontiff had brief intervals of conscious
ness during which he spoke to his ply
sicians. Early in the afternoon DIR. Lap
poni really thought the end had arrived
and Cardinal Serafno Vannutelli. the
grand penitentiary, began the prayers
for the dying and gave the pontiff abso-
luton in articulo mortis. His death was
considered SO imminent that all the
cardinals were present and the members
of the diplomatic carps were admitted
to the sick room, az according to the
tradition the pope must die surrounded
by the sacred college, the pontifical
court and the diplomats accredited to
the vatican.
The state department at Washington
upon learning of the death of the Pope
sent the following:
Cardinal hampolla, 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 comprehensive 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"
AS the senior member of the sacred
college, Cardinal Oreglia, to whom the
Pope solemnly confided the in
terests of the church, has now become
the exponent of the cardinals until Pope
Leo's successor has been elected. This
has brought forth Cardinal Oreglia as
the striking personality of the hour.
He is tall and robust and his seventy
four years are shown by the wilderness
of his hair. His face has the tawny hue
of old parchment and is deeply lined
Despite his austerity, the cardinals
learning and piety are universally recog
nized. This is the man who for the
time being is practically Pope. 1t was
he who issued the orders to clear the
Vatican from intruders and brought
tranquility out of the confusion i'm
mediately following Pope Leo's death.
The first of those grand and unique
ceremonies which follow the demise of
Pope began Tuesday morning and
although private, it was conducted with
great pomp and was most impressive
All the cardinals present in Rome num-
boring 20 assembled at the apostolic
palace to view the body of Leo XIII,
and to officially pronounce him dead.
The quiet of the evening was broken
by chorus such as the world has sell
dom heard. On the stroke of eight all
of Rome's four hundred churches com
menced to toll bells for the passing of
the soul of Leo XIII. From the seven
hills and from every quarter of the city
which contained churches came the
constant clang until all was one vast
reverberation.
Wednesday the diplomatic bodies and
the high dignitaries of the church paid
their tribute to the dead Pope. In the
afternoon the body was arrayed in pom
tifical robes, the mitre replacing the
hood and at sunset 1t was taken into the
Chapel of the Sacrament of st. Peters,
where for some days the public will be
given an opportunity of paying last
farewell. On the evening of the eighth
day the corpse will be enclosed in two
collins, the inner one of cypress and the
other of lead, which will be deposited
within stone sarcophagus.