The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-07-21
.FALCONIO ISSUES
OFFICIAL NOTICE
Apostolic Delegate Pays Dead
Pontiff Beautiful Tribute
SENDS WORD TO BISHOPS
Bishop Rocker Joins Him In peplorins
the Loss to Humanity and Says
the Whole World Hon
ored His Holiness.

Washington, July 2O-The first definite
announcement of the death of the pope
was made to Apostolic Delegate Faleonio,
was conveyed to him at l2:45 o'clock to-
day by means of an Associated Press
bulletin. -Four hours later the official
confirmation came in. When the Asso-
ciated Press bulletin was handed to
Bishop Falconio he was having his mid
day meal in company with Bishop ROCKER
and Auditor Marchetti of the apostolic
delegation All expressed deep sorrow,
but forbore to giving an expression until
the official statement had been received.
During the afternoon the delegation was
visited by many priests who left their
expressions of sympathy and coincidence.
Among the callers also were repsenta-
tives of the German and Russian emoas-
sizes, both of whom called In state TO e1-
press their sympathies.
Fhe official announcement Of the pope's
death was carried 20 the legation at 4;45
ocloek by a messenger from the Postal
Telegraph company. 1t was write In
Italian and translated by DR.. Rocker and
reads as follows:
Rome, July 20, 1903
"Monsignor Falconio, apostolic dele
gate, Washington, d. c..
with deepest sorrow l announce 10
you the death OF the holy father which
occurred this afternoon at 4 o'clock. His
holiness died surrounded by the Sacred
College m. CARDINAL RAMPOLLA.
To this message Bishop Falconio made
immediate response as follows'
washington, d. c., July 20.
Cardinal Rampolla, Rome-With deep
est sorrow l express to your eminenee
the universal grief at the irreparable loss
sustained In the death of the glorious
nontiff. "FALCONIO."
Address to ArchbIshops.
Monsignor Falconio also gave out the
| following address to the ninety arch
bishops of the Catholic churches OF
Apostolic Delegation.
UNITED States of America,
washington, L c., July 20. 1903.
Your Lordship-It is my painful duty
to convey to you the sad intelligence of
the death of our holy father, the pope.
which occurred today. AS In life, so in
death. the august pontiff has shown such
wonderful examples of serious thought.
of determination, of character, of sweet
ness of hearty piety and Christian forth
tude as to invoke In all lands the most
striking manifestations of reverence and
respect.
Leo XIII is dead. In him the world
has lost a profound scholar, a distin-
RuSned statesman, lover anu pIoltctoI
of right and justice; has lost one whose
power for the amelioratlon of society haY
been exercised with such consummate
skill and earnestness as to be felt every
where and to gain for him universal ad-
miration. Hence his death is deplored by
ALL without distinction of nationality or
creed.
However, for us Catholics the loss Is
greater and consequently still more keenly
felt. In Leo XIII, besides the scholar,
the statesman, the philanthropist, we have
lost our spiritual father, the supreme pas
tor of our church, him, who, during his
long pontiheate has watched with inces-
SAINT solicitude for our spiritual welfare
and has spared no labor to proclaim far
ther and wider the kingdom OF his divine
master His reign recalls to our minds
the brightest days Of the papacy. His
noble figure has earned one of the most
glorious places in history.
while we bow reverently before the re-
mains of our august pontiff and deplore
the great loss which his death has caused
to the church let public and private
prayers be raised to Heaven In every do
cese and in every parish for the eternal
repose of that noble soul AS to the
! public prayers your lordship may pre-
scribe such suffrage as your piety may
inspire.
with sentiment Of highest esteem and
profound respect, beg leave to remain,
your Devoted Servant In Christ.
| ID. FALCONIO