New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-12
POPE, IN GOOD HEALTH,
ADDRESSES 100 PERSONS
Reports of His Death Emanating
from Madrid Cause Amaze
ment in Vatican.
WORKS FOR SEVERAL HOURS
Receives Three Cardinals in Sep
arate Audiences-Every Cap
ital in World Shocked
by False News.

Rome. April 1.-THE origin OF the as
founding dispatch from Madrid, which
purported to have the authority of the
Papal Nunciature there. announcing the
death OF the Pope. Is incOmprehensible at
the Vatican. from which no cOmmunica-
ton was sent which could possibly be con-
strued into an erroneous report. The
Popes condition to-day was as physically
perfect as could be expected in one Of his
years.
The Popes physician. Or. Marchiafava,
after rIdculing the report this evening,
authorized the statement that the condi-
ton of the Pontiff is normal and satlsfac-
tory.
Cardinal Merry del Val. the Papal Sec
rotary Of State. was more explicit. lie
said that the Pope had been in excellent
health throughout the whole winter. IN
deed the Pontiff had experienced better
health this winer than In any Of the other
winters Of his later life. He had suffered
no attack Of govt, nor even cold. eX-
cept an insignificant one a few weeks ago.
when audiences were not really suspended
but postponed. I'm order TO give him little
rest before Easter week. AS and indlca-
ton Of the POpes present strength ana
health, the Cardinal added:
Every day the Holy Father rises WIN
the sun says mass. then takes cup %
coffee. without solid food He deals WIN
all the affairs Of the Church. grants private
audiences receives sometimes ulouoaII
people. always a few hundred daily con
tinung until o'clock without rest OF ioo"'
except at times another cup or CoHee. 80,
After a Hight luncheon his work continues
until late I'm the evening. How many Eouns
men could maintain such z life as does tme
venerable POntif, who has almost com
plcted seVenty-seven years
The Papal Secretary expressed the hope
that the Pope would be able 70 spend an
even better summer this year, first, because
he will occupy cooler apartment, and sec
ond because the subteranean gallery lead
ing from within the Vatican to the vatican
gardens. which has Just been finished, VIII
give the Pope an opportunity TO pass con-
siderable time in the open air, ire" from
intrusion. The Cardinal added that the
people should mistrust the impression
gained by those who see the Pope, as IN
good faith they are deceived by his race
which seems To show I'll health. when IN r.
ality II bears only the marks Of care.
The Pope to-day spent many hours IA
hard work He first received the Papai
Secretary. who communicated to him ili
the current affairs. Then Cardinal Della
Volpe Prefect Of the Congregation OF the
index spent considerable time with His
Holiness. informing him Of the subject of
an examination which had been made of
several important books. whose authors
have presented memorials against their be-
ing placed In the Index Later the Pope
received Cardinal Biliot OF the GrogOrian
University. with whom he converseL TO-
half an hour regarding the condition Of III"
ecclesiastical studies and work OF IN"
JesuIts Of which order the Cardinal is q
member senior dc Estrada, the Argenine
Minister to the Vatican, and his family also
visited the Pope. as we'll az Prince Borghese
and Count and Countess de Jonghe. With
each he spoke with paternal affability. Tn"
pontirf also received in general audience
more than one hundred persons. including
several Americans, to all Of whom he gave
his hand tn kiss.
Madrid. April 1.-THE erroneous report
Of the Popc's death originated through a
telegram which was sent to an attache AZ
the Papal Nunciaturc announcing the
death Of his father. Tho word used was
Papa" which means either pope" ~
father"
The attacht assumed that II was the
Pope who was dead and he so informed the
Spanish government. Premier Canalejas
in turn. communicated tho news to the re-
porters They flashed the report over the
world King Alfonso and members OF the
Cabinet we're informed. and sent messages
Of coincidence e. the Nunciature The Pa
pal Nunco was absent when the messages
arrived. and the mistake was not discov-
cred until he returned.
CONSERVATION was caused in every capita
OF the world on receipt Of a flash from a
Spanish news agency reporting the Pope's
death In London a querj was immedt
ately sent TO Rome, but owing to the
crowded state Of the submarine cable be-
tween England and the Continent II took
| two and half hours to obtain an answer
This was short and To the point, simply
| stating. Madrid report untrue"
Cardinals and Papal nuncios in all large
cities were Immediately inundated with in
quiries but were helpless. as I'm no case haC
any direct message arrived from Rome OF
Madrid Cardinal Farley. in New York
Cardinal Gibbons. in Baltimore; Carolina
Bourne In London, and Cardinal Annette
in Paris were all appealed to for news.