Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1922-01-26
POPE BENEDICT "
DIES AT VATICAN
HEAD OF CATHOLIC CHURCH sue.
cUMBs TO ATTACK OF
PNEUMONIA
MAKES BRAVE FIGHT FOR LIFE
Outcome Of illness In Doubt for Many
Hours; Oxygen Administered Gave
Only Slight Relief; Pontin At
fable and Lucid to the End

Rome.-Pope Benedict died here
Sunday morning at o'clock, following
an attack of pneumonia.
There had been moments Saturday
when 1t was feared the end had come
but stimulants revived the pontiff and
his natural powers of resistance car
ried him through temporarily. He
seemed to cling to life as did Pope
Plus x In 1914, when the final out
come was In doubt for many hours.
1t was day of great uncertainty In
Rome and deep anxiety among those
who watched and prayed at the vati-
can, for virtually all hope of the pope's
recovery was abandoned even In early
morning.
AS the hours passed, the wonder
grew at the recuperative powers Of the
pope which enabled him to pass from
one sinking spell and another to per-
iods OF comparative restfulness and
strength. 1t was this changing condi-
ton that inspired the hope at one min
ute and gave rise to rumors of death
by another.
In the early part of the day sleep
came and seemed to add to his powers
of resistance. Throughout the day
great crowds gathered around the vati-
can and double row of royal guards
took up positions in the outskirts of
st. Peters, forming a passageway for
diplomatic representatives prelates
and other notables.
Cardinal Gasparri, papal secretary
of state, received many kilograms from
all parts Of the world, including those
from King George of England, and the
king of Belgium. The cardinal spent
considerable time In the sick room,
but entered the ante-chamber shortly
after o'clock. He said:
II came out to announce that there
is no further hope The pope may be
considered as having virtually ceased
to exist
This caused CONSERVATION among
those assembled and Gasparri was
weeping as he came from the room in
which the pondiff was dying.
And yet, later Saturday evening,
more hopeful word was received from
the pope's bedside. and on each occa-
sion the spirits of those in the vsti-
can were raised, notwithstanding Dr.
Battistini's continuous admission that
the pontiffs condition was "most
grave"
Oxygen was administered and ap-
peared to give slight relief. Shortly
after l o'clock Cardinal Migone cele-
brated mass in the chapel adjoining the
pope's bed chamber.
During his visit the pope never re-
linquished his affabllity towards those
of his household who attended him,
smiling, and recognizing and appreci-
ating every attention from his visitors.
On his bed of pain the pontiff seemed
figure of imposing moral grandeur.
what a man, what pope" have been
commonly heard.
When the popes nephew, Marquis
Dellachisa,, despite his own illness,
came to the bedside, the pontiff re-
preached him for his imprudence and
begged him to return Immediately to
bed. When Cardinal Gasparrl was I'M
able to put his hands on the pontifical
will in the drawer Of the desk, the
pope called to him:
your eyes are bad. Bring me the
drawer, ] Will look myself"
Thus through hours of agony, there
fell from his mouth for each who APP
preached him, a word and a smile,
thank you or word of encourage
ment. Even when his condition be-
came worse and he was not longer able
to take oxygen, he desired the arch
bishop of Bologna to recount every
detail of the fetes and receptions had |
at the enforcement of Monsignor
Rocca as archbishop. At another mo-
ment he desired to know the names of |
the diplomatic corps present in the |
After the publication of the latest |
bulletin, Cardinal Giorg Monsignor |
Migone, Father Basin and DIR. BATHS |
TIM remained by the bedside. After a
time the rector told his holiness that |
they were praying for the peace Of the |
world to which the pope replied:
81 would willingly offer my life for
the peace of the world"
He then turned on his side and lay
those near him.