The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-22
POPE LEO PRONOUNCED DEAD.
Ceremony That Was Conducted by the
Dean of the Sacred College.

ROME, July H.-This morning began the
first OF those grandiose and unique cere-
monies which follow the demise of a Pope
and, although private, il was conducted
with great pomp and was most impressive.
All the cardinals present in Rome. number
ing Twenty-Five, assembled at the apos-
tolic palace 10 view the remains of the
late Leo XIII and TO officially pronounce
him dead Cardinal Oreglia, dean OF the
Sacred College and camerlengo Of the Holy
Roman Church. haG TO put aside his car
dinals robes as sign OF deep mourning.
and was gowned entirely in violet. Inc
other cardinals wore crimson robes with
violet collars, Indicative OF mourning.
Within the death chamber the body lay
with white veil over the face, on the
bed. surrounded by Franciscan peniten-
tiaries, while outside the noble guard main
tanned solemn vigil. The profound ST.
lence was only broken by the chanting of
prayers for the dead. Into this solemn
presence came the mourning procession of
cardinals who, kneeling, silently prayed.
Then the prelates reverently looked on
while Cardinal Oreglla approached the re-
mains.
For this mornings function the Pope's
bedroom had been transformed into kind
of mortuary chapel with the altar at one
end, having in the center cruclnx sur
rounded by six lighted candles. Four eau
dies stood at the bed corners. The white
veil was then removed from the dead man 3
the departed Pope, rendered sharper and
more transparent by death. So life-like was
the body that those present half expected
Leo TO raise his hand in the familiar
gesture of blessing.
A moment Of breathless silence ensued
and then the cardinal camerlengo, taxing
the asperSori'lm, sprlnkled the late Pont,H
with holy water and said in f1rm voice,
'Gioacchino" Ohe Christian name or the
deceased holy father When there was
no answer the same word was repeated
three times, louder and louder, AFTER wnien'
turning to the kneeling cardinals, the cam
erlengo solemnly announced: The POPE Is
really dead" As the words were uttered
there arose from the kneeling cardinals
sigh, like that of the wind In the trees
at night, tribute paid TO the late Pontl1
by these princely heads of the church
After this, in voices trembling with emo
ton, the ranking cardinals recited the DE
profundis, gave dissolution and sprinkled
the BODY with holy water. -,
Following the ceremony of the recognition
of the death of the Pope by the Sacred COZ
lege came another, shorter, but no less
significant and symbolic. On Leo's niger
was the famous fisherman's ring, when
the camerlengo, with whispered prayer,
drew gently off, and which later Will De
broken in the presence of the cardinals,
reset and presented to the new Pope when
he is elected. The ring is OF very great
antiquity. 1t is even said TO have belonged
to St Peter himself. 1t is stone of little
value cut with the scene of st. Peter draw
ing in fshnets. 1t was first used ABOUT
the year 1265, but for secret documents II
was only used later. Officially 1t is one OF
the symbols of office most priced by the
church. Although lost two or three times
il has always been recovered.
The government of the Catholic Churcn
has been officially assumed by Cardinal
Oreglia as dean of the Sacred College and
as dean of the cardinal bishops. He Will
be assisted by the deans of the other
two orders of cardinals-Cardinal Macchio,
of the cardinal deacons. and Cardinal Ram
polla for the cardinal priests, the last, now
ever, merely as a sub for Cardinal Netto,
the Patriarch of Lisbon, who, when he ar
rives. will take over his own duties.