Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-01-24
Pope BENEDICT XV
DIES At VATICAN
SUNDAY MORNING
End Comes After a Series
Of Sinking Spells and One
Brief Interval Of Recov-
cry

occurred at o'clock Sunday morn
ing.
The end had been expected for
several hours. The attending ply
sicians, Cardinal Gasparri and 9TH
er members Of the pope's house
hold were present at the bedside.
From midnight all hope had been
abandoned and at 2 o'clock DR.. Bat
StiStini announced that the Pope
could not live longer than four
hours at the maximum.
There had been moments during
Saturday when it was feared the
end had come, but stimulants re-
viyed the pontiff, and his natural
powers of resistance carried him
through the turning point tempora.
r1ly. The holy father seemed to
cling to life, as did Pope Plus x in
1914, when the final outcome was
In doubt for many hours.
Death Expected at Amy Time
DR.. Battistini, the chief attend
Ing physician, visited the patient
several times Saturday evening and
throughout the night, each time he
said that any minute might see the
conclusion of the long hours of suf-
fering through which Benedict XIV
Lad passed in his fight for life.
The last announcement of the eve
ming to the diplomatic representa-
tives waiting in the ante-chamber
was made by Cardinal Gasparri. the
papal secretary of state, who said:
"A catastrophe is imminent. The
holy father is getting worse and
worse; we must be prepared for the
inevitable"
The cardinals face was downcast
and sad. He spoke in quiet tones,
with deep emotion. making gestures
with his hands, showing that his
holiness was sinking lower and low
er.
After the publication of the latest
bulletin, Cardinal Giorgi, Monsignor
Migone, Father Basil and DIR. Bat
tistini remained by the bedside. Att
er a time the doctor told his holiness
that they were praying for the peace
of the world, to which the pope re-
Piled:
81 would willingly offer my life for
the peace of the world"
He then turned on his side and lay
watching those near him.
Day of Uncertainty
It was a day of great uncertainty
In Rome and deep anxiety amcng
those who watched and prayed at
the vatican, for virtually all hope
of the pope's recovery was abandon
ed even in the early hours of the
morning.
AS the hours passed, the wonder
grew at the recuperative powers OF
the holy father, which enabled MN
to pass from one sinking spell and
another to periods of comparative
restfulness and strength, 1t was
this changing condition that inspired
hope at one moment and gave rise
TO- rumors of death at another.
1t was thought that If the pope
passed safely through the night he
=, would have a chance of life after
] the dawn, and so it proved. 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 vatican, and a
double row of royal guards took up
DO itions in the outskirts OF st.
Peters, forming a passageWay fCT
diplomatic representatives prelates
and other notable personages con-
stantly arriving.
Cardinal Gasparri, papal secretary
of state, received great numbers OF
kilograms from all parts of the
world, including those from King
George eff England, King Alfonso OF
Spain, the king of the Belgfans and
the president of Brazil. The cardi-
nal spent considerable time in the
sick room, but entered the ante
chamber shortly after O'Clock IN
the evening, where he was surrounds
ed by those who had waited hours
for definite news. He said to- them
at came out to announce to the
automatic corps that there is nc
S further hope. The pope may be con
sidered as having Virtually ceased
to exist"
This caused CONSERVATION amcne
those assembled in the pontifflcal
apartment, and Gasparri was weep
ing as he came from the room in
which the pontiff was dying.
And yet, later i, the, eve--ing
more hopeful word was received
\ from the pope's bedside, and or
each occasion the\spirits of those II
the vatican were relatively raised
notwithstanding DR.. Battistini's con
. tinuous admonition that the pontiff's
condition was most. grave.
Spends NeStleSS lSnb
An all-night vigil which the Asso
ciated Press correspondent kept II
fine ante-chamber IF the pope's pr
Vate apartment brought evidence
that the pope chung to life only by
n slender thread. He passed an ex
+remely restless night, suffering a!
he was from extreme congestion O.
both lungs and from the intense ag
ony caused by shallow and rapit
respiration. When DR.. Battistin
visited his holiness in the very earl!
hours of Saturday morning, the pa
tient rallied somewhat, and was abb
IN exchange a few words with thos'
in attendance.
When BATHS TIM said to the pope
sT am going now" the holy fathe
snilingly replied, But don't go. m!
dear old man."
Oxygen was administered at va
rious times, and appeared to Civ,
. slight relief. Shortly after O'CLOCK
cardinal Migone celebrated mass II
the chapel adjoining the pope's be-
chamber, situated on the top floor
at which members OF the nobl
guard were present.
During all the hours of his suffer
inc. the pope never relinquished hi
affability toward those of his house
bnld who attended him, smiling
even bantering the doctors, and rec
oenizing and approaching every al
tention from his visitors. On hi
Rod of pain the pontiff seemed a fig
IRE of imposing moral grandeur.
"What a man, what hope" haV
heen common expressions of admire
t;on. To his aged doctor, who re
fused to take rest, the pope sale
nWhy don't you go and lie dowr
YOU are an old man now?" ,
When the pope's nephew, Maroui
DelIachiesa, despite his own illness
came to the bedside early in tn
morning, the pontiff reproached hir
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