New-York tribune., 1903-07-26
LAST HONORS TO LEO XIII
BURIAL IN ST. PETERS.
MournfuI and Imposing Scene IN the
Great Cathedral.
Especial TO The Nen-York Tribune by French Cable)
lr.nv-LEst. 1910: BY The Tribune Assooiationl


,ror,7rht. 1876: BY The Tribune Association.)
Rome JuIv pa note common TO humanity
vas struck at the burial Of the Pope tonight.
The Office for the dead heard daily in the
churches was repeated as if Leo XIII were
neither a visible head of the Church nor SOW
ereign but an ordinary man, from the Mis-
erere" to the "In Paradisum' and from the In
greiar" to the "Quem Admodum Desiderat"
There was a solemn Office with a requiem chant
and Psalm which might have been heard at the
burial Of the Iowliest Catholic; yet here at last,
after three days exhibition of a dead Pope in
pontdcals and gold mitre before throngs of
scramblius sightseers, there was something
austere and simple. weird and profoundly i'm
pressive to touch the maginaton-something
worthy of the historic basilica and the noble life
Of the greatest of modern Popes.
The vast spaces of St. Peters were dimly
lighted when the diplomatic corps, the Papal
court and seven hundred invited guests, repre-
senting chiefly the old nobility admitted.
There were two thousand spectators, men in uni
form or evening dress and women in black, but
they were lost in the shadows of the cathedral
Guards were still watching with halberds and
drawn swords beside the dead Pope. and around
them was a radiance Of yellow candle light.
There was also misty light in the Chapel Of
The Choir and ninety-fve gilded lamps were
ar I'd.
confession Of St Peter. In solemn stiffness the
approach Of the long procession from the Hall
of Consistory was awaited. It mournful
file OF eoclesiastics and soldiers tramping slowly
into the basilica, but more melancholy than the
sornbre vestments was the sorrowful. signing
ike 'Miserere," echoing far and wide with un-
earthly and weird pathos.
When the cardinals in their violet robes had
paid their final tribute of homage and loyal
obedience, the coffin uplifted by the guards,
ard the procession passed slowly toward the
altar, with the Miserere as an accompani-
rnent. It. was medi8vaI spectacle. deeply i'm
Iressive. Several hundred men and boys were
seen 10y the light OF the haring torches. Choris-
tera, ecclesiasucs canons and students were in
violet and black the Noble Guard IN red, the
gen6ames in green and the dignitaries of the
court in medieval costume.
The body was carried across the church tc
the confession of ST. Peter. where the Pope had
often prayed at midnight by the traditional
tomb Here the coffin was lowered to the
ground for ahsolution, and then was carried
lack through The church TO the Chapel Of the
Choir, where the burial Office was repeated in
the presence of the cardinals and the diplomatic
corps. Tradition was followed in almost every
detail. Purses containing coins and medals
were placed IN the coffin, with z parchment
record Of the Dcntihcate. The majordomo
drew silk scarf over the face and hands OF
tie dead and the coffin Nes sealed by six great
fUnctioneries
When The last requiem was sung. and 7 An
Jhe Resurrection and the Life" had rung cut
IN Latin, the coffin was raised in a sling and
slowly swung into the niche over the sides Of
the door, the lights disappearing on the alta,
from stage TO stage, u. il the last one was az.
inguisneo- 4l.e iest junction was performed
by the masons, who bricked 1ip tlA orarip, .rt
set marble plate with the name "Jeo XIII,
In front Of the sarcophagus
About ttirty-tEo cardinals were nresert car
dinal Gibbons not being among then, II wa,
= unique medieval ceremonial. in a temnl.
oonsecrated to traditions and mysteries but
the music was the most impressive feature srt
saddened the heart Of the most joyous spec
taror ~