Evening star., 1903-07-21
CARDINAL CAMERLINGO.
Procedure at Vatican Following the
Death Of the Pontif.

Procedure at Vatican Following the
Death Of the Pontiff.
From the New York Tribune.
The very moment that a pontif breathes
his last the cardinal camerlngo takes up
his residence in the Vatican. usually In
apartments Joining those OF the secretary
OF state, and causes every entrance OF the
Vatican to be closed. no one being allowed
to enter or leave without a permit. which
Is known by the name OF "bastoncello"
These ''bastoncelli' are made OF wood OF
no intrinsic value, bearing the name of the
cardinal camerlingo. and are purple. green
or white in color
The cardinal camerlingo who at the pres
ent time is Monsgnor Oreglia. thereupon
makes tour of inspection through the en-
tire place. and receives from the head OF
each department account of all val
uables under his charge. for the safety OF
which he becomes responsible.
The body of the deceased pontiff having
meanwhile been laid out usually In the
'ante-camera segrata,' the cardinal Gamer
lingo. surrounded by the members of tho
sacred college and other papal dgnitartes.
proceeds to perform, according to the pre-
Scribed rite. what is known as the "cere
mony of recognition" The latter has been
the subject of much Misrepresentation on
the part of writers upon papal affairs.
Thus there is truth whatsoever in the
story current according to which the car
dinal camerlingo with a silver mallet taps
three tines upon the forehead of the dead
pope, calling him by his Christian name,
the pontif, falling to make any response.
being thereupon declared to be truly
dead" The ceremony of recognition is
much less dramatic but more solemn.
The camerlingo, after praying silently
over the dead pontif, removes from tho
latter's face the white veil with which il Is
covered and In a few set words makes a
solemn declaration Of the popes demise.
G.,l.4
dead pontifr. is then handed by the prelate
who fills the role OF master Of the chamber
to the camerlngo. who either breaks 1t in
pieces himself with silver mallet else
causes 1t to be broken in his presence. the
fragments becoming the perquisites of the
prelates of the dead pontiff's household
During this ceremony the penitentiaries
Of st. Peter say the office for the dead
around the bier and from that time forth
until the entombment keep incessant
watch over the corpse, reciting continuous
prayers.
The Heart Taken From the Body.
AS soon as the ceremony Of recognition Is
over the work of embalming the corpse Is
begun members of the Noble Guard being
present and keeping watch throughout the
entire process. The body is opened and
the heart removed and placed in a jar
within a wicker basket and sealed For
over 800 years it was customary to convey
the hearts Of the popes to the ancient
Church of Saints Vincenzo Anastasio On
each side of the high altar of this church
are engraved the names of more than
seventy popes whose hearts rest in the
vault which Benedict XIV constructed to
receive them. The heart Of Plus TX. how
ever, was deposited in the crypt of st.
Peters. and 1t Is probable that the same
disposition will be made of the heart OF
Leo XIII.
On the day following the DEATH toward
evening, the body of the pope. vested in
full pontificals. is taken in procession from
the Vatican to st. Peters and consigned
to the charge Of the Chapter of the Ba-
silica. 1t will be placed on a catafalque
in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament.
the feet projecting through the cancelli
The master of the ceremonies will deposit
at the feet Of the dead DOntin two red
hats. one of velvet. called the winter
hat lad pompan." The lying in state will
probably last during four days. during
which time the people will be admitted to
take last look at Leo XIII.
AS soon the lying in state has been
completed the last funeral rites take place
at sunset. Preceded by the ''palafrenieri'
carrying torches. and accompanied by the
members of the sacred college, and OF the
pontifical household. with Prince Chigl at
their head. the corpse of Leo will be car
ried round the Basilica on the shoulders CT
the noble guards. The major domo, Mon
signor Della Voipe. will thereupon cover the
fa zee of the corpse with white handker-
chief and bag containing twenty-five gold
pieces. corresponding with the number or
years of Leos reign. together with re-
cital on parchment of the principal events
thereof will be inclosed beside his remains
IT, casket sealed by the pontifical major
domo and Cardinal Rampolla as archpriest
os the Basilica Of st. Peter. This casket
will then be placed In an outer coffin OF
lead, which will likewise be sealed by the
same two dignitares. as well as by the
cardinal camerlngo. and this leaden case
will! be placed in third sealed coffin OF
oak Once more the mortal remains OF
Ieo XIII will then be carried In process
sion before being hoisted into the niche I'm
fhe wall of the Basilica, which will serve as
the provisional tomb until the final and
ast disposal of the body beneath the splen-
did monument which Leo caused to be con-
,structed for himself in his lifetime.
The Camerlingo In Control
During this entire time, in fact, from thu
very moment Of the pontiff's death until
the election of his successor, the supreme
and sole control of the affairs of the papacy
and of everything and everybody in the
Vatican will be vested in the cardinal cam
erlingo. namely, His Eminence Oreglia.
Besides ,ordaining for the various cere-
monies in the foregoing in connection with
the obseuuies of the dead pontif he vii.
preside, probably tonight. over the meeting
of all cardinals present IN Rome to decide
whether 1t Is necessary to hold the conclayc
at once. or II 1t Is practicable to allow the
usual period Of time which etiquette ana
between the demise Of one pope and the
election of his successor. As soon as tins
point is settled the cardinal prefoct OF cere-
monies issues the briefs summoning all
those. who are entitled to admission to tho
cOnclave.