The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-07-12
Leo Wishes His Tomb TO be
in LatGran BaSiIiGa
MAKES EARNEST REQUEST
The Holy Father Is PathetiealIy Anx-
ious to Arrange for His Final Rest
Ing Place-satolli Speaks
of America.

Rome, July n.-Cardinal Satolli receiv-
ed a representative of the Associated
Press at the palace of st. John Lateran
this afternoon and in the eourseor an In
teresting conversation confirmed the re-
port that the pope had recently expressed
a wish to be buried in the magnificent
Lateran basilea, which has been under
Cardinal satoli's charge since his return
from the United States
II saw his holiness only last night
said the cardinal. "and he was very, very
weak. He has began to lose the power
of enuneiating his words clearly and his
tongue seems to have some Strange i'm
pediment, but his mind continues to be
perfectly clear and he does not appear
to have any realization of the gravity
of his case. For instance. the congrega-
tion of rites. over which the pope pre-
sides, had fixed a time for considering
the question of the canonizatiou OF Joan
of Arc. The holy father kept this In
mind, and Notwithstanding his condition.
sent for Amici his secretary, and di-
rected him to have tho meeting Temporal
rily put off saying he greatly regretted
not being able to met the congregation
at the appointed time next Tuesday,
but he would certainly be able to meet
the congregation soon"
Believes the Pope VIII Die.
Cardinal Satolll cited this incident as
showing that the pontiff regarded his
present illness as one from which he
would recover, at least sufficiently TO re
sumo the direction OF important Questions
of church policy. But after sntioning
the after. the cardinal shook his head
mourniuly and said he felt fully satls-
fed that the holy father could not lNa
more than few days longer.
Although his mind IL prefectly clear.
and wonderfully vigorous" the cardinal
added. the pontiff's outward evidence OF
strength is deceptive and Is In reality due
| to the unremitting use of powerful slim
ulants. Indeed the constant adminisLra-
tion Of stimulants practically sustains his
strength and life at this time and imme-
dlAtely after their effects pass away. he
relapses Into extreme weakness"
The cardinal was asked whether tha
pope made a testamentary request regard
ing his final resting place and he replied:
Leo Speaks of His Tomb.
Yes but that was some time ago per-
haps a year back. When he made his
Will ne expressed desire tndI aIleT ne
had rested the usual period of one year
at St. Peters that his final resting place
should be here at the Church Of St John
Lateran. Then l saw the Holy Father on
ly a short time before his sickness. and
he again brought the matter up. saying
with earnestness that he wished TO repose
here. But l endeavored 10 dismiss such
a gloomy though from his mind by telling
him there was no need OF considering
such thing at that time"
Cardinal Satolli then spoke OF his stay
In America. and his black eyes snapped
with real satisfaction as he referred to
the slight coolness which occurred In
certain quarters when he first arrived in
the United States and how later his conn
Ing was more generally and agreeahly
welcomed He spoke Of the various grave
church questions which he had been
called upon to solve and seemed sratified
with the results achieved.
| II always liked to see Ameucans~ he
remarked and when they are gnad
enough to say they want me to como
again to America, l assure them that 1t
is my earnest hope to do SO .