Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-01-23
P0PE'S BODY, CLAD IN
PAPAL ROBES, LIES IN
STATE IN THRONE ROOM
Continued from Page One,


ment that it was decided to call
all the pontifical family to his
bedside. The royal guards were
sent out to notify the papal Sec
rotary Of state OF the pope's con-
dition.
Yesterday evening virtually all
Of the cardinals resident in Rome
were in attendance at the vatican.
After midnight the crowd
which had waited many hours
around the court yard diminished
to only a few monsisnori and at
taches to the pontifical court. The
vatican now was enveloped in deep
silence, with the ponderous dome
Of st. Peters dominating the per-
vading gloom.
No one was allowed to enter
the vatican, and the spacious hall
became almost deserted, with only
an occasional guard quietly pac-
ing the corridors and stairways.
Guards were stationed at the
outer door to the pontifical
apartment on the top floor and
on the inside Of the same door
there were two gendarmes. Then
at the entrance OF the ante
chamber, at the other end of
a short corridor, was a corporal
of the Swiss guard who permitted
no one to pass unless they fur
nished proper credentials.
From midnight to 5 o'clock
there was practically no move
ments through the corridors save
an occasional visit by DR.. Battas-
TIM. 1t was not until the pope
actually passed away that a stir
to call the pontifical family to-
gether was made.
The formal announcement Of the
pope's passing was tn occasion for
a scene of deep emotion. All those
present in the ante-chamber wept
and the prelates knelt in prayer.
shortly afterward Cardinal Cas-
parri proceeded with the formal
taking over of the temporary
Of the affairs of the church.
He will be the nominal head of the
church until a new pope is elected.
Throughout the night small
groups clustered in ST. Peters
Every one leaving the vat
lean was anXiously questioned. To-
ward $50 it was announced that.
the end was near and at a few min
utes of 6 the Swiss guards inside
the vatican could be seen kneeling.
A few minutes later the door was
shut and thus the popes death was
The royal guards then cleared
space before the gate of the vati-
can, allowing only those connected
with the papal household to pass.
it was still dark, the
crowd began to increase. Toward
7 o'clock the bells of st. Peters
slowly tolled the signal that the
pontiff had passed, Masses were
celebrated at various affairs in the
The first person, outside of the
immediate pontifical circle, to be
informed of the pope's death was
Premier Bonomi. who notified the
king and other high dignitaries of
state. as well as to the governors
of the colonies. For the first time
in the history of relations between
Rome and the vatican. the govern
ment instructed that the flags be
half masted on all government Of
fees in observance of the pope's
death.
Already every one is recalling
the ceremonies of stately pomp, Of
which the dead pontiff now will be
the center during the LeXt few
days, beginning with the gathering
# the cardinals in the death cham
Der.
They then will call the silent
figure by his Christian name before
pronouncing him officially dead.
This will be followed by the his
toric ceremony of removing the
ring, which will he
drawn off the pope's fingers by
Cardinal Gasparri, who will de
stroy it and have it recast for Ben
edict's successor. Then will come
the elaborate preparations for the
embalming of the body and for che
three days ceremony during which
it will lie in state in st. Peters
chapel before burial.
Speculation already is rife con-
corning a successor. Cardinal Gas
parri Is among those most promi-
nently mentioned, although the
election of papal secretary is al
most without precedent.
The college of cardinals is under
stood to be divided into two fairly
equal groups on the pope's success
sor. The groups represent those
who wish the next pope % come
from outside Italy and those who
think he should be a native. At
the moment the latter group APP
pears to be in the ascendency, al
though certain members of the
sacred college show a strong liking
for Cardinal Maffi of Pisa, who is
most strongly supported in Italian
centers, but his advanced modern
ideas are likely to arouse opposi-
ton, particularly from the group
headed by Cardinal Merry del Val.
1t is considered possible that be-
cause OF these two opposing
groups, Cardinal Gasparri may be
chosen as a compromise between