The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-21
HOW POPE LEOS SUCCESSOR
WILL BE CHOSEN BY CONCLAVE

or the official notification. by the Pope 8
| medical attendants, that his Holiness is in
a critical condition, the sacrament is set
forth in all the churches in Rome. At St.
Peters it is exposed on the high altar. COW
| cred with a cloth of white lawn. which
is only removed on the death of the Pope.
| Meanwhile summonses are sent by tele-
f; graph to the foreign or absent Cardinals.
| and those in Rome are called to the Nati-
| can.
| On the death occurring. the first. step
| to be taken is the official vertfication that
| the vicar of Christ is no more. This act,
| which is performed with certain pre-
| scribed ceremony. devolves on the Cardinal
! Camerlingo tChamberlain). to whom. on the
| demise of the Holy Father, the supreme
| authority for the time being is committed
| Attired in full canonicals. his Eminencc
| attended by the Cardinals. prelates and lay
| men of high rank at the Papal Court pro-
| ceeds to the chamber of death. Knocking
! at the door with a wand Of silver, the
| Cardinal Camerlingo enters the room. and
| advancing to the couch on which lies the
| dead figure of the Pope, touches the breast
and forehead and then, sinking on his
knees. proclaims in loud voice: "Dor.inus
| papa noster mortuus est.
The fsherman's ring and the other papai
| seals are then handed to the Cardinal Cam
| erlingo. together with document formally
| attesting the death Of the Pope. AS soon
| as this ceremony is accomplished the body
is embalmed and attired In the pontifical
vestments as preliminary to the public
eypOSitiOn of tho rarnD1pc in
The body, which is committed to the
charge Of the papal chamberlains, is first Of
| ali taken to the Sistine Chapel and thence
by covered way to the great basilica,
where it lies in state for three days in the
Chapel of the Holy Sacrament. reposing on
a richly tlraped couch
Four members of the noble guard watch
over the remains day and night with drawn
faithful. In defilng past, can kiss the feet
of the Pontiff.
ASSEMBLING OF CONCLAVE
TO ELECT A NEW POPE.
While every church in Rome is draped
in mourning and masses for the repose Of
the soul OF the departed, together with the
special prayer for the guidance of the
church and the new Pope, are said con-
startly. the arrangements for the holding
Of the conclave are being perfected.
The ten sacred congregations meet on the
third day from the Popes death in the Hail
of Consistory and there appoint three men,
bers of their body, Cardinal Bishop, q
Cardinal priest and a Cardinal deacon, to
form, with the Cardinal Camerlingo, the
temporary state executive. On the first
meeting of the Cardinals. the Cardinal
Camerlingo reads the papal bulls touching
the election Of a Pope and then. in the
presence OF all, breaks the fisherman.s ring
and signets of the deceased Pontin
On the tenth or at the latest the twelfth
day after the death OF the Pope the con-
clave assemblies for the election of the new
Pontif. 1t is held at the beautiful Sistins
Chapel within the walls OF the Vatican.
Built by Pope Sixtus ". this famous
church has been adorned by the hands of
the greatest OF italian painters. On the
walls are the works OF Signorello, Boticolli
splendor OF the f:escoes of Michael Angelo,
Illustrating the creation and the last judg-
ment
Connected with the chapel. which is itself
on the first floor of the Vatican. are the
reception OF the Cardinals and their at
tendants. and the arrangements are such
that when their Eminences have entered
the place of conclave the entire section
Of the Vatican set apart for the purpose
can be shut off entirely from the outside
world. the intention being that the MEM
bers of this exalted council shall be sub
jected to no mundane influences.
Each Cardinal is allowed the services of
secretary and an attendant. who will,
while the conclave lasts, occupy rooms adj
jacent to the particular cell allotted to
their master.
On the day fixed for the meeting Of the
conclave, the Cardinals assemble to hear
special mass of the Holy Spirit and to take
the oaths of faithfulness and secrecy.
When this is accomplished all the mem
bers of the Sacred Congregations go in
solemn procession two by two and followed
by the long retinue of attendants to the
conclave while the inspiring strains Of the
"yeni Creator Spritus" are chanted
DOORS LOCKED AND MEALS
DELIVERED THROUGH WICKET.
Once within the confines of the conclave
the massive doors are shut with double
locks, and from that moment until the new
Pontiff Is elected no person is permitted to
pass in or out. The meals for the as
semblage are prepared within the walls of
the Vatican and are delivered through a
wicket gate or easement let into the door.
1t is here. also, that, on the first do,