Evening star., 1922-01-23
|C0NCLAvE TO ELECT
SUCCESSOR TOPOPE
"OPENS FEB | OR z
American Cardinals May Not
Arrive in Time for
First Sessions.
BODY OF BENEDICT LIES
IN STATE IN ST. PETERS
Solemn and Impressive Ceremonies
Attend Procession From Vatican.
Immense Crowds Present,

Immense Crowds Present.
By the Associated Press
noME, January 23.-The meeting Of
the sacred college in concIave to elect
successor to the late Pope Benedict
VIII open February or February 2,
IL was stated today.
"hlfe all the cardinals resident in
Europe are expected to reach Rome in
time Tor the cQnclave, it is considered
extremely doubtful whether the
American cardinals will find it pos
slble to be present, at least for the
opening of the session. as the date set
is barely ten days away.
Likely Candidates.
Cardinals Maffi, La Fontaine and
Ratti. of Pisa. Venice and Milan. re-
spectively. are the most prominently
mentioned in Vatican circles today as
the most likely candidates for the po-
sition as successor to Pope Benedict.
In these circles Cardinal Maffi ap-
parentiy is pronounced favorite,
even OF these three prelates.
In the basilica of ST. Peters historic
church Of his faith the body of Pope
Benedict XIV lay in state today. while
vast throngs passed reverently before
the catafalque.
Early in the day all that was NOR
tai of the late pontifT. whose death in
the early hours of Sunday plunged
the church, throughout the world in
to deepest mourning, was taken from
the throne room of the Vatican where
1t had been placed on Sunday, shortly
after his death, splemnly carried to
ST. Peters attended by a procession of.
diplomatic corps and dignitaries of
the Vatican. and placed on the cata-
falque. surrounded by votice candles.
Public Admitted.
Word was given that the public of
Rome would be admitted to St.
Peters up to IL o'clock. and immense
| crowds Immediately began entering
| the vast edifice and filing by the
body.
The body is robed In white, with
| stole and chasuble OF red. embfoider-
ed with gold. The head. wearing the
pontlhcai mitre, reposes upon cush-
ions OF red and gold velvet. The
hands. wearing the .pontihcal gloves
of purple silk and holding the ros-
airy, are clasped over the breast
The body, as 1t was solemly hrough.
into st. Peters was borne upon a red
covered bier by ushers. clad in medie-
val costumes OF scarlet. The pro-
merle of the Vatican. the pontificai
police with their elaborate uniforms
of blue and white, walking with
drawn swords Following them were.
the palatine guards. in dark blue uni
forms and plumes of black feathers
standing erect.
One Dressed I'm Black.
One Of the cardinals who followed in
the procession. Cardinal Casquet, alone
was dressed in full black Cardinals
Fruehwirt and Poggiani stood out in
the distinction Of their white dominican
robes. while the remainder Of the car
dinals. more than two score in number,
due to the arrival of a number of the
Italian cardinals. wore the red of their
rank.
All moved with bowed heads, recit.
ing their prayers and proceeding at a
slow pace. their faces grave with the
| solemnity Of the occasion.
Guards flanked the members Of the
sacred college Then came the mem
DStS III Tie COIpS, IN DlaCk
mourning attire. The bishops and mon
signori. numbering some 200. fell in be-
hind. closing the long and solemn file.
CorteEe Moves On.
Passing from the throne room to
the hall of Clementine, the cortsHs
entered the loggia and proceeasd
down the Scala regia to the first floor,
then along the loggia of Raphael to !.
the Pope's robing room for religious.
ceremonies, passing through the very
corridor where ii is thought his holi-
ness caught the cold which resulted
in his death. the procession then
passed through the sala ducale to
the stairs of Constantine. and thence
along to the entrance to st. Peters
and into the massive edifice where
the body will lie in state until tomor-
row in the Chapel Of the Holy Sacra-
ment.
The body of Pope Benedict lay for.
some time in the chamber where he
died. There was a pilgrimage of
prelates, ambassadors and ministers
to the pontiffcal bedroom to look
fathey.
Benedict wore his papal robes and
in his hands was a rosary. His face
was somewhat drawn. Indicating the
! intense suffering through which he
passed before death intervened.
Body I'm Brass Bed.
The body lay on a single brass bed,
with four large candelabra with
burning candles at each corner,
Two noble guards in full dress uni
forms Of striking red. with their
cleaning gold belts and high Roman
helmets. stood at rigid attention at
the foot Of the bed. With swords
drawn they appeared like statues.
At the foot Of the bed there were
several prie-dieux, where visitors
kneeled and offered prayers for the
soul of the departed. pontin. Along
side the wall during the day pre-
iates recfted the rosary. Frequent
Iy one of them would go to the bed
side of the pontif, kneel and pray
and then, rising, bend over the pom.
tiff's body and kiss his hands, feet
and head.
Paintings ON WALL
On the walls Of the modestly fur
nished apartment were four oil paint
inKs. Beside the bed stood q small
table. On that side Of the bed from
| which the windows overlooked St
Peters Square there stood through
out the day a, group Of prelates and