The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1922-02-03
BODY OF POPE
LIES IN STATE.
Cardinal Gasparri in Charge of
Church Affairs Pending Election
of Successor to Benedict XIV.
CARDINALS ARE SUMMONED
Body Taken to St. Peter's-SoIemn
Services Extending Ten Days Will
Be Followed by BaIloting for
New Pope

Rome.-The body of Pope Benedict
XV., who died at 6 o'clock Sunday
morning, was removed from the death
chamber to the throne room Of the
Vatican to lie in state. BY the wish
of the Pontiff, his body will not be
embalmed, and will not lie in state In
the Sistine Chapel, as has been the
custom.
The body lay all day in the bed
room in which the Pope died, with
lighted candles, one at each corner OF
the bed. The Pope's apartment is on
the top floor of the Vatican while the
throne room is Immediately below It.
the two being connected by stair
case, the Scala Regia. with walls OF
g11stening yellow MARBLE uImIy lit at
the end of each flight by sained glass
windows.
The State procession which bore the
body was reminiscent of the Middle
Ages, the only modern note in the
picturesque ensemble being the Pala-
tine Guards in their uniforms and
armed with rifles. The first part OF
the procession was composed OF the
Palatine Guards, the Bussolanti In red
damask, the officers of the Swiss
Guards in a black, yellow and red
costume designed by Raphael, tie Off
GERS Of the Noble Guards wearing
golden helmets with black plumes
and the secret chamberlains in cos
tunes which resembled those Of the
Elizabethan Age.
The Pope's body reposed on scar
let funeral bed, carried by Noble
Guards, which was followed by the
Pope's relatives, the Cardinals and
other eminent ecclesiastics.
The body was dressed il ceremonial
garb, which consisted of white wool
gown, red cope, white cassock and
stole, white silk sash with gold tassels,
white stockings, red shoes and gloves,
a scarlet cape with clasp set with
precious stones and a pallium. The
Pope wore a ring and a gold miter.
The face had a drawn appearance
Indicating suffering.
The procession, a mass of varie-
gated but subdued color in. the dim
light, made an unforgettable sight as
it moved slowly down the beautiful
staircase, accompanied by the chanted
prayers of the church dignitaries, with
responses from kneeling onlookers.
Passing through the Clementine Hal
between double rows Of Swiss Guards
with haiberds held at attention, the
procession entered the throne room,
where members of the Diplomatic
Corps waited, kneeling.
The funeral bed bearing the body
was placed on eatafalque at the foot
of the throne. The head was raised
slightly, and yotive candles, which had
been placed around the catafalque,
were lighted. Mgr Zampini, the Sac
ristan Of the Vatican, gave absolution
and the ceremony was ended by the
Cardinals present passing around the
catafalque and sprinkling the bier with
nelly water.
Although the death of the Pontiff
had been expected at any time during
twenty-four hours, the scenes in his
bed chamber and the ante-room and
just before and just after his death
were most striking. AS the news
spread that his last moments were
approaching, silence fell on the whole
Vatican.
In the simple, austere bedroom,
where the dying Pontiff lay, the 81
lence was broken only by the subdued
sobbing Of his two nephews, one cf
whom had risen from sickbed, to
which he had been confined by infiu-
ellza, to be present. A short time be-
fore ,he end, the nephews knalt by the
Pope's bedside and kissed his hand.
Dr. Bignami, with his hand on the
Pope's pulse, stood so motionless that
he seemed a statue. Cardinal Gas
parri, Papal Secretary of State, AMI
Mgr. Pizzarro knelt on the far side of
the bed The movements Of their lips
indicated that they were at prayers.
At the foot of the bed were grouped
the members of the Pope's household,
including Cardinal Giorgi, Mgr Res
pighi, the Prefect of Ceremonies
Mgr. Caccia Dominant, Master of the
Chamber; Prince Aldobrandini, Chief
of the Noble Guard; Mgr Samper,
Majordomo, and Mgr. Iampini, Sac
riStan.
Cardinal Giorgi intoned prayers for
the department, which were followed
by all, including the resident Cardi-
nails and the members of the Diplo-
matte Corps, who knelt in the adioiu-
ing private chapel, at the door of
which two Of the Noble Guards stood.