Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-07-21
CEREMONIES At
THE VATICAN
Remains Of the Late Pope
Are Viewed by Twenty
Nine Cardinals.
THE BODY IS LIFEL|kE
Beginning Of Grand and Unique
Ceremonies Which Follow
the Death Of a Pope.

L
the first. Of those grand and unique
ceremonies which follow the demise of
a pope, and, although private, 1t was
conducted with great pomp and was
present in Rome, numbering 20. assem-
bled at the apostolic palace to view
| the remains of the late Leo XIII and
to officially pronounce him dead.
Within the death chamber the body
lay with white veil over the face, on
the bed, surrounded by franciscan PEN
itentiaries, while outside the noble
guard maintained solemn vigil. The
profound silence was only broken by
the chanting Of prayers for the dead.
Into the solemn presence came the
mourning procession of cardinals, who
kneeling silently, prayed. Then the
prelates reverntly looked on while
Cardinal Oreglia approached the re-
mains. The white veil was then re-
moved from the dead mans face, re-
vealing the eameo-like features of 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 en-
sued and then Cardinal Camerlengo,
taking the aspersorium, sprinkled the
~ tor NJ
in a firm voice: "Gioacchino," (the
Christian name of deceased holy faith
err When there was no answer, the
same word was repeated three times,
louder and louder. After which turn
ing to the kneeling cardinals, the Cam
erlengo solemnly announced: Papa
we're mortuus est" (The pope is really
dead). As the words were uttered
there arose FROM the kneellng cardinals
a sigh, a tribute paid to the late pom
tiff by these princely heads of the
church.
After this, in voices trembling with
emotion, the ranking cardinals recited
the de profundis, gave absolution and
sprinkled the body with holy water.
Following the ceremony Of recogni-
ton of death of the pope by the sa-
cred college came another, shorter but
no less significant and symbolic. On
Leo's finger was the famous fisherman's
ring, which the Camerlengo, with
whispered prayer, drew gently off and
which, later, will be broken in the
presence of cardinals, reset and presen-
ted to the new pope when he is elec-
ted.
The ring Is OF very great antiquity.
1t is even said to have belonged to st.
Peter himself. 1t is a stone OF little
value, cut with the scene Of st. Peter
drawing in fishing nets. 1t was first
used about the year 1865, but for secret
documents 1t was only used later. Om-
cially, it is one Of the symbols OF Office
most priced by the church. The govern
ment Of the Catholic church has been
officially assumed by Cardinal Oreglia
as dean Of the sacred college and as
dean of cardinale bishops. He will be
assisted by deans OF the other two or
ders of cardinals. Cardinal MaccM of
the cardinal deacons, and Cardinal
Rampolla for the cardinal priests, the
last, however, merely as a substitute
for Cardinal Nettio, the patriarch OF
Lisbon who, when he arrives, Will take
over his own duties.
CONCLAvE WILL SET AUGUST /.
Rome, July 21.-According to a state
ment coming from a high ecclesiastic,
arrangements at the vatican are being
pressed forward which will enable the
conclave Of cardinals to begin sitting
August /. However. It is now thought
the sessions may last considerably
longer than at first expected. even
long enough to permit Cardinal Moran
Of Sydney, N. SW., to arrive in time
to take part in the proceedings.
FIXES TIME OF POPE's DEATH.
Rome, July 21.-Dr. Lapponi now
fixes the precise hour Of the Pope's
death at 4:06. The fact was imme-
diately communicated to the Associat-
ed Press, but under rule which re-
quires that two hours shall elapse af-
ter the doctors pronounce life extinct,
before the dean Of the sacred college
shall of1iciaMy announce the death Of
a pope. the telegraphic Office was una
BILE to forward the message at once. 1t
left Rome on one Of the nineteen wires
working from that city to Paris, about
6 o'clock local time az o'clock noon.
New York time).
Ewen Arrives Uader Guard.
I 1..Ixa-. NJ. I,.lu .Ql Tha militia -