Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-07-23
POPE LEO XIII
IS DEAD.
POntiN'S Life Slowly Waned TO the End
After a Lingering Illness.
DEATH CAME FROM EXHAUSTION
Was Preceded by Period Of lnsenSl
bility-Dr. MazzOni pays Tribute to
the Serene Courage with Which the
Aged POntiff Met the final
ordeal.

Rome, July 2O.-The death of Pope
Leo XIII, was announced from the Vati-
lean shortly after 4so'clock, this afternoon
Since late yesterday the holy father bad
been gradually sinking, and the end was
not surprise. The Pontiff expired from
cerebral anaemia, and his closing hours
we've passed in semi. consciousness. He
was unable to speak or to take nourish'
ment; even the free use of chloral falling
to revive him.
Surrounded by the Princes of the
Church. and members of his family, the
passing away of the aged Pontif was as
peaceful as his life had been. There was
no struggle, only the "peace that passeth
understanding, when the spirit left the
trail, earthworn body.
As early as $40 this morning it was re-
allied that the Pope was in a death stupor,
and since that time Cardinal Oreglia had
had been waiting at the Vatican to make
official announcement of the Pontih's
death.
During last night the holy father slept
at intervals Alb ut noon he suffered a
cardiac attack and all the cardinals in
Rome we're summoned to the Vatican
The Pope rallied slightly, but the rally
only lasted moment and he soon drifted
into state of coma and was unresponsve
to the strongest stimuants. The marvel
GUS vitality of the heart was the only thing
that kept him alive during the last few
hours. Be entered the death struggle at
$3.50 and ut the end came.
While the attendants of the Popes bed
side were praying today, Leo, who was
even then dying, suddenly aroused and
said to Cardinal Oregla;
"To you eminence, who will soon seize
the reins of power, | confde the Church In
these urgent times." This is taken to
mean the Pope wishes Oreglia to be his
successor.
Public estimate had given the rank Of
leading statesmen of Europe to three aged
lnen-Blsmarck, Gladstone and Leo AIlI.
Vinenzio Gioacchino Pecci, Roman Pom
tiff, designated, according to the ancient
custom by the name chosen at coronation
Leo XIII. was born of a partician tam
lily March 2, 1910 at Capineto, in the di'
ocese of Anagni, Italy, in the Volsclan
range.
At the age of % he was received into
the priesthood, The next year Pope
Gregory XVI, set him to work governing
small field, but amid great difficulties,
sending him as Governor Delegate to Bon
vento, a district of less than 80 square
miles in the Papal states This district
had not only for years been infested with
banditti, but brigandage was one Of tie
chief occupations.
A distinguished honor, notable in the
case of one so young. was conferred on
him in bis appointment to a diplomatic
post of grade next to the highest IN inn
portance. In ecclesiastical rank he had
been advanced correspondingly to be titu-
lar Archbishop of Damietta, Sin partibas
infidelium"-the domain of the unbe-
lieving.
The young Archbishop of Perugia show
ed himself the kind of a man who applied
himself to the work given him.
On December 10, 1858, Pope Plus X
proclaimed him a cardinal. His age was
43.
The death of Cardinal Antonelli in 1876
was soon followed by sudden change in
the whole scene of Pecci's life. Within
the twelve months ensuing, the Pope calet
him to Rome to take one of the highes
places in the Vatican Sacred College and
in the intimate councils of the Vatican.
Pope Plus TX died early in 1878.
On February 10 the conclave assembled
which was to elect a successor to Plus. Or
these occasions each cardinal is escorted tC
a cell and must fast in solitude until TIN
conclave again meets on the next morning
On February 20 the third and last ballot
took place. Cardidal Pecci was elected
Pope by A votes out of 81.
His coronation took place in the Sstin
Chapel on Sunday, March 8, 1873.
1t was but few years after his elevation
to the Papacy was witnessed remarkable
event-an interview in the Petit Journa
of Paris, authorized by the Pope. In
he said: "The republic is a form ofgovern
ment as legimate as any other. The Unite
States, despite liberty almost boundles
grows greater and greater every day, an
the Catholic Church has developed itsel
there without any struggle to sustai
against the State. The two powers agre
there perfectly well, as they ought to agre
everywhere, on the cnhdition that the on
does not infringe the rights of the other.
: On February 20 of the present year lie
, celebrated the Ponhfcal jubilee, tn
twenty-ffth anniversary of bis accession
the Papal throne. The aged Pontiff
that time was in failing health and, cor
trary to theadvice of bis physicians, insis
ed on taking an active part in the cere
mon es!attendent upon the occasion.