Arizona republican., 1922-01-23

The sacristan Zempini gave abso-
luton and the cardinals sprinkled
holy water while the plenipotentiarles
chanted prayers, answered by the
kneeling onlookers. Immediately
afterward the doors were opened to
the multitudes desirous of looking for
the last time on the departed pontiff.
The sacred congregation convened
this morning when the cardinals
were informed OF the pope's death.
With the exception of Cardinal Gas
parri, the papal secretary. they
gathered in Benedicts private apart
ment.
Gasparri, in due and solemn form,
escorted by the Swiss guard in full
dress and accompanied by the pre-
lates and acolytes Of the reverend
apostolic chamber entered the apart
ments a few minutes later. He will
administer the Holy See during the
interregnum.
Verify Pope's Death
Cardinal Gasparri, surrounded by
the cardinals, then proceeded TO ver-
ify the death OF Benedict. extending
over the lifeless form a silver wand
and crying out 'Giacomo! Giacomo
Giacomo,"
He opened the certificate Of death
and declared:
'Dominus Papa Noster Mortuus
Est" thus announcing officially the
pope's death.
on leaving the pontificial cham
hers, Cardinal Gasparri, still escorted
py the Swiss guard, descended to the
first floor. where the sacred congre-
cation convened, commencing its de-
liberations at 10 o'clock. The Off
cial and semi official vatican organs
give o'clock as the time of the
pope's death and the Rome news
papers do likewise. Monsignor Piz-
zardo. in describing the last moments,
said to the Associated Press corre-
spondent who was the only American
newspaper representative admitted TO
the ante chamber:
"When the end was near, was
called from my chamber and hurried
quickly to the pontiff's bedroom.
That was a few minutes before 6
o'clock ] saw the holy father breathe
his last. AS the other prelates knelt
beside the silent and lifeless form, |
asked that might tell the news 10
the press. l thereupon hurried to
the ante chamber. where several
men We're awaiting events,
anu lllOAiiSu lASAh Nhe'S eiAS P~PS AtN-S
died"
The Monsignor was asked at what
hour death occurred and he replied:
Exactly at this minute"
At this moment the bells OF ST
Peters struck the first stroke OF 3
o'clock. Then one by one the bells in
Rome's 400 churches Joined in the
symphony that marked the
passing of the pope
The end came after an entire night
Of tense agony and suffering, the
pontiff now and then lapsing into de-
iirium. Shortly before midnight he
took a little nourishment which
momentarily revived his spirits but
within an hour he began to sink
rapidly. At 1:15 o'clock, DR.. BATHS
tint told The Associated Press corre-
sondent the end was approaching,
that already his hands and nose felt
cold
From that period the pope neared
the end. Breathing became~an agon-
izing task. as the pontiff, who had
the severe lung and throat
congestion now was too weak TO
overcome the overwhelming attack
His eyes were half closed as he
lapsed into unconsclousness, while
the terrible mastery which pneu-
monia had won over the pontift s
dogged resistance, now began its
rapid extinction of his slender hold
on life.
I.ls heart rapidly weakened, and
at 5 a. m. it was certain that the
end was close. Accordingly Cardinal
Gasparri and Monsignors Sampe and
and all the pontifical house,
hold, were notified that the end was
approaching. Cardinal Gasparri en-
tered the bed chamber at 5 so, walk
ing with short, rapid steps to the
bedside OF the dying pontiff. He
had been there only nine minutes
when the pope breathed his last. Car
dinal Giogi, grand plenitentlary. at
tended the pope throughout the night,
saying first mass for Ills Holiness
shortly after midnight. He was as
sisted by Monsignor Respighe, pre-
feet OF ceremonies and by Monsig-
nors Testoni, Piermott and Mag
Called Pontificai Family
Only half an hour before he died,
his holiness tried TO lift himself and
wished to dress himself, but he was
so wea'- he sank back. His hands and
feet were numb. 1t was at this
that IL was decided to call
all the pontifical family to his bed
side The noble guards were sent
out TO Motif the papal secretary OF
state of the pope's condition.
Yesterday evening virtually all of
the cardinals resident in Rome were
in attendance at the Vatican. After
midnight the crowd which had wait
ed many hours around the court yard
to only few monsignori
and attaches to the pontifical court.