The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-18
CARDINAL RAMPOLLA
ALONE WHEN HE DIED
Servant Had Left Room at Prel-
ate's Order TO Sum-
mon a Priest.
SECRET SEARCH FOR WILL
Only Document Found Contains
Request to Pope
Leo NH.
SECRET SEARCH FOR WILL
Special Corr.spondeucs TO Tur Sun.


about thT will are published in the news
papers every day but absolutely no light
is thrown on the mystery, which Instead
In further com pllcatcd by wild reports and
sensational contectures.
when cardinal Rampols died. a few
minutes before midnight OF December IL.
he was quite alone. His faithful servant
bedroom to see whether he was asleep and
found him dying. The Cardinal was
breathing with difficulty and had all but
lost the power OF speech. His last words
werc. Giuseppe. run for priest and a
doctor" by tho time Giuseppe had
awakened the other servant and sent him
out for priest and a doctor the Car
dinai was dead. His agony lasted less
than ten minutes.
within an hour Of Cardinal Rampolla's
death his secretary. Mgr. Rocchi.
had gone TO the Vatican. few
minutes walk from the residence of
She Cardinal the so-called Palace
and notified Cardinal Merry del Val
Meanwhile two nuns from con-
won't close by had been sent for. and from
midnight until in the morning they
knelt and prayed near the Cardinals
body. At o'clock two officials OF the
Oecretariate Of State. specially sent by
Cardinal Merry del Val. had taken posses
Cardinals residence. affixed seals on his
desk and other furniture where docu-
ments were likely to be kept and awaited
the arrival OF the master OF ceremonies
o. tho Holy See. Mgr. Raegi. who IL sup
posed TO take possession OF the body OF
every dead Cardinal and make the neces-
oory ARRANGEMENTS for the funeral.
Relations In Rome Summoned.
Tho only relations OF Cardinal Ram
polla In Rome. his brother-in-law and
sister. Baron and Baroness de Perrana-
had been summoned TO the Cardinals
residence and were there when at dawn
Mgr. Raggl took possession OF the body.
After the funeral the two officials Of the
Secretariate OF state. who had examined
all the documents found In the house. re-
turned most Of them to Baroness de Per-
rama. They had sorted all the documents.
they said retaining only those relating to
the period when the deceased was Secre-
tary OF state. The seals were then broken
and the search for the Cardinals will be-
gan.
Cardinal Rampolla was an extremely
orderly man. All his letters were carefully
flled. all his documents were marked and
numbered and In a small drawer OF his
desk he kept several keys. each with
cardboard tag attached on which was
written a few words. One OF the keys n
key OF the ebony box with my will
in the cupboard with mirrors" A search
was made for the ebony box both In
the cupboard with mirrors and in other
furniture. but all efforts to md Il proved
fruitiess. A will OF Cardinal Rampolla
was however. discovered. It Ia dated
1889 and written on four sheets OF paper
by the Cardinal himself. Tho complete
text follows:
Text of the win.
IN the name OF the most Holy Trim
fly Father. Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Considering how precarious and feet
3nR Is human life and how troubled the
prevailing times with my thoughts on
death which might overtake me sud
denly. II God So Wills II, being of sound
mind and eager 70 avail myself OF the
right granted to me both by canon ana
civil laws by means of this will written
by myself dispose what follows:
First Of all In departing from this
world. filled with the most humble ard
deep gratitude toward the Divine bounty
Tor the many favors received. with full
and unlimited faith I place my soul into
ths hands Of God. my most beloved Gre
ator and redeemer. through whose i'm
1nense mercy and through the infinite
merits OF His most precious blood shed
for me- and by the powerful aid OF His
blessed Mother. virgin and immaculate as
we'll as Of the Saints my special pro-
tectors. despite the multitude OF my sins,
hope that place OF salvation will he
given me-
''when my body becomes . corpse de-
sire that Il be In no way embalmed or
handled by anybody. but that II be ex-
posed according to custom. simply dressed
in tho vestments prescribed By ceremonial.
AZ TO the funeral I beg my heirs to fol-
low the instructions Of the Project Of
Pontifcal Ceremonies. who regulates the
funerals OF Cardinals. Immediately after
my death I desire that my heirs have
200 masses celebrated for the repose Of
my soul. and that they pay five lire
Gone dollar) for each mass.
II direct that my body be Professionally
inferred In the most simple and modest
manner at the Cemetery OF Campo
Verano In tho chapel OF the Holy
Congregation Of Propaganda, to which
belong When the period pre-
scribed by law has elapsed I direct my
heirs to have my body exhumed and my
remains transferred in the most private
manner to my titular church Of Santa
Cecilia. which will be my last resting
place.
Only One Inscription on Tomb.
81 desire that my remains be buried
In the crypt of the above mentioned
titular church and placed near the tomb
Of the glorious virgin and martyr Ce-
ella. next 10 the sepulchre OF the Cardinal
Paolo Sfondato. on the side facing the
altar of saint Agnes. My tomb is 10 he
covered with a simple marble tablet on
which will be engraved the Biblical words:
'Expecto donec veniat immutatio mea'
] forbid my heirs to add any other in
scriptions on my tomb.
~ hereby appoint my universal heirs
IN equal shares my dearest brothers Vim
cenzo and francesca. and my most be-
loved sister Eleonora. The life interest
OF both my ecclesiastical estate, assigned
10 me for my holy ordination, and of my
paternal inheritance, shall however, be
snjoyed by my good and most affectionate
Mother Orsolina during her natural life.
81 most humbly beg the holiness OF our
Lord. the Supreme Pontiff Leo Kill, to
deign accept as a pledge OF deep respect.
sincere gratitude and affectionate attach.
ment the ring with briliiants given TO
me al a gift by the Republic Of Colombia
on the occasion Of the Concordat OF De-
rember 81, 1887. which date recalls the
happy event OF his sacerdotal Jubilee
ITO my tituar Church OF Santa Cecilia
] bequeath my pontifcal box, with the
mitres and all tho other episcopal vest
ments. the velvet curtains. three pectoral
crosses. with their respective chains. one
Of which is adorned with sapphires and
AANvv lin a.