The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-08
LAST HOURS or THE POPE.
DR.. Marchiafava Tells of Pontim's
Illness and Death.

ROME. Aug. 2l.--The following inter-
view with Prof March, fava, published in
the COrricre dItdIid, is the only authentic
account OF the POpcs Illness and death:
First OF all | must say that during
these last weeks the Pope suffered a great
deal on account OF the war" said Prof
Marchiafava. He often told me and the
members OF his encourage that Europe
was being covered with blood and his
grief was considerable. The fact that the
war was Inevitable depressed and weak
encd him | s;rved to comfort him, but
1t was useless, as war news increased his
sadness and sorrow.
Your Holiness should not be depressed
as your health is precious to the Church,
to the world and especially TO US al
ians. used to tell him. He smiled
! sadly and his plety sAOny from his eyes
and Illuminated his face and he answered
what am | to do. dear professor? Mill
ions OF men are being killed | tried to
prevent II but failed. All that is left
Tor me now is sorrow. II | do not think
about the safety of So many young lives,
the Hover OF humanity, who else should?
l have the highest ministry of peace and
| yet
| His eyes filed with tears and every
| day It was the same. lie spoke about
the war T. me, TO his sister, 10 the pref
aies OF his court to all who came near
| him. Every one tried in vain to com
| fort him. But his soul was bleeding and
! could not remain lnsens. Die TO the gravity
! OF what was happening. His grief Ia
| creased 10 such an extent that bad news
bowed him down physically and depressed
. MIN morally. And Yet 10, Was 50 strong
| when death was near
'lils illness came on not only suddenly
/ but with the Rapidly OF "A thuuderbo
II struck hum a. a most critical period
OF depression. lis constitute u, that mad
! resisted other
yielded, and besides ms disease he suf-
fered from sorrow for this great slaugh-
ter. cannot say that death was hast, ned
owing to his great sorrow, but he GER
tainly would nave resisted more had he
not felt such grief
'Recently his pulse had been Irregular
and ne became subject To chronic ca.
tarrhal complaint, from which formerly
he had recovered when he followed my
cure. Ihls time as soon as he was taken
Ill his condition was serious His re.
covery from the first was hopeless. his
, death question Of a few hours. or
; sunday August 10. the Pope was yer,
| tired. visited him and warned every,
, one OF the danger. For five days he suf
fered only from the usual catarrh, bu
i then he became feversh and his resp!ra
ton became very quick.
He complained of pains Throughout
his body. especially in the chest Stl
suaded him with difficulty not to leay,
his room. When ! left him on Saturday
August 10, II was the last time | saw hin
as he used to be when he was we'll TIL
fever increased on the following day an,
I | on the next. but his condition was no
( serious until Monday. He said he fol
= better and left his bed, but In the eve
}, | ming the fever still rose and his weakness
:. increased in an alarming way.
n ION Tuesday he was worse stll h
= wanted to leave his bed and work
i warned Cardinal Merry del Val and IN
s first bulletin was published. The Pop
\. realized that the end was near and wa
'. calm and resigned He told ME that h
< would obey me and stay In bed. \
1890 on Wednesday | returned 10 IN
Vatican and found the Pope had IA con
plete collapse He was still consciou
but very weak
s. He received the last sacraments wit
T. calm Joy and prompted to his secretar
N the words of absoluton when he va
n administering the Viaticum He wa
VI moved to tears. Then he blessed us al
rs slowly and with a trembling hand. !
T. NJ. he appeared to be slightly be
he ter and he asked me to give him son
is coffee and milk. Within a short tin
" no fell back exhausted.
y "'How does your Holiness feel?'
We asked him. Better. thanks. he reptile
He grew worse rapidly left the Vatica
at s o'clock I'm the evening and return,
n at Q. | found him still worse. He WI
entirely unconscious. notified every OF
that the catastrophe was imminent.
4. placed n cruciflx between his hands. whit
ne kissed. lie opened his eyes and look
around and then expired never ga
ne any one die go serenely.'