Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-07-21
CEREMONY FOR
1H[ D[AD POPE
Series of Impressive Rites Mark
ing Demise of the Pontiff
Begun Today
------
PREPARATIONS FOR coNcLAvE
First Steps Looking to the Choice OF a
Successor to Leo Taken--Meetins of
Cardinals In Death Chamber to Re-
move Fisherman's Ring and Officially
Pronounce the Pope Dead.

move Fisherman's Ring and Officially
Pronounce the Pope Dead.
Rome, July 21-The body of Pope
Leo reposes today in the chamber
where the last death struggle took
place, which for the time being mas
been transformed into a mortuary
chapel. Beside the bed small altar
has been raised. on which flicker SIX
candles, surrounding figure of Christ
hanging to a cross. The chanting of
penitential psalms goes on increasingly,
one group of kneeling Franciscans sue
ceeding another in the performance OF
this holy office In the meantime today
began series Of impressive ceremonies.
marking the demise of the. pope and the
initial preparations for the choice OF
his successor. The most solemn cere-
1nony was the gathering Of the cardi-
nails of the sacred college in Leos death
chamber, to officially pronounce the
l.
historic ceremony of the removal of the
fisherrnan's ring. These ceremonies
were carried out with the accompani-
1nent of all that stately pomp marking
the ritual for the deceased pope.
Beyond the performance of the final
Offices to the dead. attention is now be-
ing turned to the preparations for the
approaching conclaye. The present eX-
pectation is that the conciave will be-
gin about Aug. l. Cardinal 0reglia,
dean OF the sacred college, today called
together his colleagues for the first
time to take part in a formal confer
cnce.
Rome. July 21.-This morning began
the first of those grandiose and unique
ceremonies which follow the demise of
pope and altho private 1t was con-
Quoted with great pomp and was most
impressive. All the cardinals present
in Rome, numbering twenty-nine, as
seInbled at the apostolic palace to view
the remains OF the late Leo XIII, and
to officially pronounce him dead. Car
dinal Oreglia, dean OF the sacred col
lege and camerlengo Of the holy Ro-
man church had to put aside his car
dinal's robes as a sign of deep mourn
ing and was gowned entirely in vio-
lets. The other cardinals wore crimson
robes with violet collars, indicative of
mourning. Within the death chamber
the body lay with a white veil over the
face on a bed surrounded by Francis
can penitentiaries, while outside the
noble guards maintained solemn vi
GLANCE. The profound silence was on
ly broken by the chanting of prayers
for the dead Into this solemn pres
ence came the mourning procession OF
cardinals, who, kneeling silently,
prayed. Then the prelates reverently
looked on while Cardinal Oreglia APP
preached the remains. For this morn
ing's function the pope's bedroom was
transferred into kind of mortuary
chapel, with an altar at one end, having
in the center crucifix, surrounded by
six lighted candles. -Four chambers
stood at the bed corners.
The white veil was then removed
from the dead mans, face revealing
the cameo like features of the departed
pope, rendered sharper and more trans
parent 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 then the
cardinal camerlengo, taking an asper-
sorium, sprinkled the late pontiff with
holy water and said in firm voice: :
Gioacchinor (the Christian name OF
the deceased Holy Father. When there
was no answer the same word was re-
peated three times, louder and louder
After which, turning to the kneeline
cardinals, the camerlengo solemnly
announced: Papa, We're Mortuus est
(The pope is really dead3 AS the
words were uttered there arose from
the kneeling cardinals sigh like tha,
of the wind in the trees at night. 6
tribute paid TO the late pontiff by these
princely heads of church.
After this, IN voices trembling will
emotion the ranking cardinals recitec
the deprofundet, gave absolution ant
sprinkled the body with holy water
The Fisherman's Ring.
Following the ceremony of recogni
ton of the death OF the pope by th'
but no less significant and symbolic
On Leo's finger was the famous fisher.
mans ring, which the camerlengo, will
whispered prayer, drew gently of
and which later will be broken in thu
presence of the cardinals reset ant
presented to the new pope when he j
elected. The ring is of very grea
antiquity. 1t is even said to have be
longed to st. Peter himself. 1t is stone
of little value, is cut with the seem
of st. Peter drawing in the fishinj
nets. 1t was first used about the yea
1865, but for secret documents it wa
only used later. Officially, it is one o
the symbols of the Office most priced b.
the church. Altho lost two or thre
times. it has always been recovered.
Embalming Remains.
Hundreds of offers come from Ital'
and abroad from doctors, druggists an
specialists for embalming the re
mains of Pope Leo, but naturally no
one Of them is accepted.
RampoIia Remains.
Cardinal Rampolla intended to leay