Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-07-28
DEATH OF POPE LEO.
VENERABLE, HEAll OF THE CATH
OEIC WORLD is NO MORE.
Statesman, RaIer, Diplomat, Author,
sIornlist, Priest, Bishop, and for
Quarter of a Century the Spiritual
Held of $50, coo, 900 Catholics.

Pope Leo Kill, for quarter of CEN
fury the spiritual head of 100000. 600
Catholics, is dead. The pontiff was in
his 9th year. As statesman, ruler din
lomat. author and nloraiist he was great
~ beloved by bis adherents, and the
wide world. ire pective of creed. or race,
or grade of civilization, expresses sorrow
ing sympathy.
In the presence Of DR.. Lapponi, DIR.
Mazzoni, Count Pecci his nephew, and
the hlgA disnitaries of the church, the
venerable pontif he's passed quietly
away Intense stiffness pervaded the
psrely iurnlshed bedroom in the Vatican
at Rome, where the pontiff lay, broken
only by the occasional sob that could not
De restrained by some one of those who
surrounded the deathbed This silence
lasted even after all WAS over, and was
broken only after the physicians had
made the final examination and had an
nounced the demise
The final illness of his holiness began
with the fatigue Of the drive he took in
the Vatican gardens on Wednesday, July
j. Ills medical attendants. Drs Lapponi
and Mazz0ni, advised against the taking
OF this drive, but the determination of
the Pope to look over the gardens he
mad loved so long and so well could not
be gainsaid On his return from this
drive Of an hour and half he showed
signs Of exhaustion. From this time has
fraii life had been ebbing like the pass
ing of a low wind
BY Friday morning his holiness had
developed what his physicians described
as seniie pneumonia. 1t was the first
time IN the history of his long and event
ful life that the breakdown Of his won
derful system seemed imminent. His
stomach refused to act. His lungs con
gested. Breathing seemed impossible
The most heroic restoratives were APP
Piled and brought some relief. The i'll
ness first described as senile pneumonia
soon developed into pleurO-pneumonia
the pieura, or membrane surrounding the
lung, becoming infamed. From the time
this symptom u reloped his holiness lay
lowering on the drink of eternity.
Twice during las last illness it became
necessary to perform operations on the
Pope to give him reli If After the sec
ond operation the Pope gradually gained
strength until the following Sunday. BY
Saturday afternoon ne was so much bet
ter that many at the Vatican hoped for
his recovery On Thursday. Friday and
Saturday he held conferences in his
chamber with Cardinal Rampolla and
other prelates regarding the affairs of
the church, and on Saturday, with the
permission of his physicians he received
a visit from two of his nieces.
On Monday night, July 6, he sank so
low that his physicians thought he was
dying. He then received extreme unc-
ton, the last ute of the church for the
dying The following Saturday and again
Sunday he heard mass read
Thus bravely fighting to prolong his
life of usefulness on earth and serenely
awaiting the summons that should call
him to eternity, Pope Leo XIII. sank
peacefully into his long rest
Notwithstanding his physical suffer
ings the Pope's mind remained active and
brilliant almost to the last. He appoint
ed Mgr. Yolponi to the vacant sec
rebaryship of the COnsitorial congre-
cation, an appointment the importance
of which is readily seen when it is con-
sidered that on the Pope's Z ath the
duties of the secretary of state are inn
medfately assumed by the secretary of
the congregation. Thus with his eyes
looking into the face of death he inter |
ested himself in guarding against any |
confusion consequent upon his passing
away.
The Pope had no fear of the final dis
solution. He spoke of life and death |
with equal serenity. II am ready to de- |
part" he said 70 a relative, Count Pecci. |
having settled all my affairs. l feel |
have done all in my power for the
good of the church and of humanity"
And yet in Pope leo as he calmly |
faced the inevitable end there was much |
of the human side of our nature He |
made eager il qriries as to the kilograms
Of sympathy AID inquiry received from