The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-07-09
POPE LEO STILL LIVES BUT
THE END SEEMS VERY NEAR
Only Matter of Few Hours When Head of the
Roman Catholic Church Will Be No More.
Leading Doctors In Consultation But No Hope Is Held Out That
the Aged Pontf Will Get Well.

DONE, July 8, 6:25 p. ma few mo-
N ments ago DR.. Mazzoni was sud-
denly called out Of the sick cham
Der by Cardinal Rampola and a hur-
ried whispered converse ton ensued
This gave rise to all kinds Of rumors
but it was soon explained that Car
uinal Rampolla had taken upon him
self the duty Of acting as mouthpiece
Tor some of the intimate friends and
relatives Of the pope. who suggested
the adYisability Of calling certain othe~
doctors in consultation Or. Mazzoni
replied that ne had not the least OBJ
lection to such a consultation. but that
the symptoms and course of the dis
ease We're so clear and well defined as
60 leave no doubt as TO the diagnosis.
He was. therefore. unable to see the
necessity for the step proposed No
decision has yet been reached about
the matter.
Best Loved Pope.
Although Pope Leo is one of the best
loved OF the pOpes the situation in the
church now Is that while there is one
party which would do anything pos
sible to have him linger. there is an
other party which thinks a change in
the papacy would further its interests.
as we'll as the interests Of the church
The former party is composed of all
the friends of those who are now in
power and who have secured the best
pests. both with regard TO honors and
positions, as well as financially. These
understand that a change may mean
practical oblivion for them.
The other party IS composed Of all
those who have been kept in the back
ground and whose only hope is in a
new administration. 1t must be con-
hdered that a new pope generally
brings a change in all the great de-
partments, including the papaI score
tary Of state and vicar of Rome the
representative of the pontiff i'm spiritual
affairs. the vice chancellor. who has
charge of issuing the papal bulls. the
grand penitentiaTy. who presides at the
tribunal of penitentiaries. granting alb
solution under certain circumstances,
and the Librarian of the holy church,
besides all other positions more or less
important contained with or depending
on these great dignitaries.
The Secretaryship.
There is only one man who holds
such a position as TO be sure to profit
by the election of a new pope, If the
usual customs are observed. This IS
the secretary Of the consistorial con-
gregation. who. during the conclave,
acts as secretary of state. Il is his
vance, Nneeling. and offer the white
sUccetto, or the small cap, making him
2 cardinal On that occasion in 1878
Leo calmly and slowly folded up his
red suCcettO and put it i'm his pocket as
mute protest against politics. The Of
hciating preiate was Mgr. Lasagni.
who. in fact, waited about three years
before entering the sacred college The
fortunate prelate who is now looking
forward 10 such a dignity is Mgr. Vol
POM. who has just been appointed sec
rotary Of the COnsistOrial congregation
as a reward perhaps. for his polished
Latin, which has been at the DISPOSE
ton of the pOntin for so many years.
10 became known later in the day that
the motive Of DR.. MaZZonis sudden call
by Cardinal RampOlla originated i'm what
vatican circles have already baptized the
rebellion of the cardinals against DIR.
Lapponi. 1t appears that some of the
cardinals complained Of the doctor *
treatment Of the patient thinking that
DR.. Lappuni had not. since the beginning.
detected that the pope was suffering from
an affection of pleura. and thus. they
said. allowing the disease to assume a
gravity which otherwise might perhaps
have been avoided. Or. Lapponi who is
supported by DR. Mazzoni, Indignantly re-