The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-23
BORNE TO ST. PETERS.
Leo's Remains Accompanied By a
 Grand CorteEe.


 Rome, July 22-At Sso'clock this even ing all was in readiness to take the body of the Pope from the Vatican to the basilica of St. Peters. The mournful pro- cession gathered around the bier, which was gently lifted by the Sediariru, who, in the life time of Leo XIII, had car ried him in the sedia gestoria. The dead pontiff was now clad in all the pomp of his holy office About him had been placed the sacerdotal robes used only when he celebrated a grand mass. The vestments were those which he wore for the last time in life in the Hall of tn Consistory when he confirmed the ap- pointments of Archbishops Farley of New York and Quigley of Chicago, June 25, last. The golden mitre, the gilded stole, the white cope,' the red chasuble, the pontifical pallium, and the papal tunic, all were there. Nothing which was em- blematic of the power wielded by the dead man for more than a quarter of a century and for centuries by his prede- cessors had been omitted.
 Leading the procession as 1t passed out of the throne room came the grooms car rying lighted torches. Behind them. walking with measured tread, were the aged mace-bearers and other domestics of the papal household. The procession of the Noble Guard and all the clergy of the Vatican, wearing their surplices, fol- lowed. Immediately in front of the bier the pontifical silver cross was held aloft. Behind the bier came the three nephews of the late Pope, Counts Ricardo and Camille Pecci and Count Canarli. Mon signor Thomas Kennedy rector of the American College. represented the United States in the procession.
 The air was heavy with incense from the censors swinging constantly beside the body. The Franciscan penitentiaries still kept up the unceasing refrain of in- tercesson.
 At the hall of Palafraniere the cortege came to standstill. There the Cardinals who had been waiting in the hall of the consistory took their places immediately behind the nephews. Their scarlet had been put aside for the violet robes which are only worn when princes of the church are in mourning.
 Once more the procession with the bier now fanked by the Swiss Guards, moved on. After the cardinals came the whole diplomatic body accredited to the vatican and the representatives of the Knights of Malta. The latter were followed by the Marshal of the Conciave. Prince Chigi. the master of the Holy Hospice, Prince RuspoH and the commander of the Noble Guards. Prince Rospigliosi, all in magnl- iicent uniforms.
 Then came the prelates of the chamber and knights of the cape and sword in their mediaval Spanish robes. The Noble and Swiss Palatine Guards brought up the rear.
 No monarch was ever followed to the tomb by a more imposing array. Led by the cardinals and pre.ates and clergy re- cited prayers and psalms for the dead as they slowly entered the Sistine Chapel where the chapter and clergy of St Peters awaited the procession. The lat ter formally received and took possession of the body. The torch. mace and cross bearers started forward giving an op- portunity to the chapter to take up a posi- ton immediately preceding the bier. The final stage of bearing the ''prisoner of the vatican" to his resting place then commenced
 From the Sisline Chapel the procession wound out around the loggia immortallz- ed by Raphael, encircled the court of San Damaso and descended the private stair case, still chanting, into the basilica
 The moment the haring torches which still led the cortege, entered St Peters. the choir which was waiting there, com menced to sing in sorrowful cadence 'Libera Me Domino" Signor Carcani the canon of St. Peters. solemnly sprinkled Holy Water over Leos body and pronounced absolution. As it was borne across the threshold the cathedral choir, still singing took the lead of the now lengthy procession. The intense silence which prevailed was broken only by the chanting which echoed and re- echoed from the huge dome and deserted aisles of the chapels as the body was borne done the nave to the Chapel of the Sacrament. There candles burned bright