The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-07-17
FINE
TOMB A
MYTH
Pope Leo Has Not
Prepared His Burial
Place
Has Only Expressed His
Preference as to The
Final Disposition of
His Body

Rome, July lt.-lne SNents Vi NhV
last week have served TO explode a
story that has been current for a
number of years to the erect that
Pope Leo XIII. had erected for him
self magnificent tomb as his last
resting place. This tomb was fire.
auentiy described as being con-
structed of Carrara marble. with n
lion upon the lid whose paws protect
the pontihcal tiara. On the right was
supposed to be a statue of Faith bear
ing candle and the Holy Scriptures; /;
on the left a figure OF Truth bearing
the coat of arms of Leo XIII. upon n
shield. and upon the pedistal the in
scriptlon: "Hlc jacet Leo XlI., Ponti-
fex Maximus. Pulvis est" (Here
lies Leo Kill, Sovereign Pontiff. He
Is dust)
This story was so generally circu-
lated that in many quarters II was
accepted as truth despite the fact
that until his fatal Illness the Pope
had never been known by his most
intimate associates OF the Vatican to
express any preference as to his final
resting place. II was supposed by
many who had enjoyed his friendship
and confidence that his preference
WAS for the splendid new basilica
erected during the last fifty years out
side the walls OF the city upon the
spot where ST. Paul. the Apostle, is
supposed TO have been buried. Plus
TX. raised most of the money and did
most OF the work. and the church was
completed and decorated under the
direction of Leo KILL, although,
strange to say he never saw II.
After his election to the pontihcate,
he remained nominal prisoner In
the Vatican, and before that, although
he was In Rome much of the time he
seems never to have had curiosity
enough to go out TO inspect the new
church. which is mile or{more be-
yond the city gates. Near by Is cur
lous little chapel, erected three or
four hundred years ago TO mark the
spot where st. Peter and So Paul had
their last interview and embraced
each other before going to martyr
dom.
Il was supposed that Plus TX would
be buried In the new basilica of st.
Paul. I'm which he took so great an In
terest. but to the surprise OF every.
body he selected the old church OF
ST. Lorenzo. In the most disreputable
part of Rome, near by the principal
cemetery. He was provided with a
beautiful tomb In subterranean
chamber. lined with the finest modern
mosaics In the world. The sarcopha'
gus is a very plain piece Of marble.
severe In It's simplicity but its sur
roundings are superb.
Shortly before he was taken Ill
Pope Leo XIII. expressed 10 Cardinal
Satolll his wishes In regard 10 his
funeral and burial. and II is probable
that he indicated In his will the same
desires as TO where he would like 10
lie, though II is possible that a num-
ber OF years may elapse before the
final disposition OF his remains Is
made Thus, Il was not until 1882,
many years after his death. that the
remains OF Plus TX. were finally re-
moved from ST. Peters TO the church
OF st. Lorenzo. II is definitely known
that to Cardinal Satolh Leo XIII. ex-
pressed the desire TO be buried in the
church OF ST John Iateran. The spot
he designated Is on the left of the
apse above the entrance 20 the sacris'
Ity. corresponding to the opposite
niche in which Is the monument
erected by himself in 1891 to Pope
Innocent Ill II is said that statue
OF Pope Leo, forming. part OF the mon
ument, has already been made. In
other respects the tomb, win resemble
that OF Innocent Ill, consisting OF a
sarcophagus with a has relief, two
inches. two statues, and two medal
Hons.