The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-26
Body of POntiff Enclosed in
Three Sealed Caskets.
Beautiful Historical Ritual
Viewed by But Few.
MANY CARDINALS TAKE PART
Sealed in Vault to the Solemn
Strain of Miserere.
Mortal Remains of Benedict XIV
Now Lies in st. Peters.
fRv tbe Associated PressD

IkOulHs JAN GU OPt 4SNA4e~@-@1
was entombed with solemn and i'm
pressive ceremony this afternoon
His body. enclosed in three caskets'
and dressed in the pontifical robes
lies In a crypt under the great basilica
of st. Peters to the right of the en-
trance.
The historic and beautiful ritual
was witnessed only by the members
Of the sacred college, members OF the
pontifical household and the papal
nobility and diplomats accredited to
the vatican.
Ceremony Began at Noon.
The great bronze doors of St Peters
had been closed at noon. The cere-
mony began with the removal OF the
body to the chapel of the choir Ihe
bier was borne upon the shoulders OF
the red robed ushers, whose uausal
functions are to carry the pope IN
the papal chair in pontifical process
sion.
The funeral cortege was headed by
the vatican clergy bearing torches and
domino" on either side Of the bier
strobe gendamerie, as the procession
moved and the choir of the chapel
Julia, in flowing robes of purple, sang
the ''A1iserere."
Noble guards, in dazzling, full dress
uni 0rms, formed an escort of honor
and the pontiff's bier was covered with
a tapestry of red damask.
Church Mobiles in Procession.
Immediately behind the body came
the major eleemosynary accompanied
by Sacristan Zampinf, and following
them was Prince Ruspoli, grand mas
ter of the apostolic household; and the
Marquis Sachettis major-forager. the
MARQUIS Francesca and Colone Di-
LII .1o.ss s.F lao EyuiE
guards, preceding a corps of the noble
guards.
Next came the major prelates in
flowing robes of black and purple.
then members of the ancient order
of the sword and cape. in quaint me-
dieval costumes with ruffled collars,
CATERS and buckled slippers, then the
high officers of the armed forces of
the vatican. Meanwhile the members
Of the sacred college, bishops arch
bishops and diplomats had entered
the chapel of the choir.
To Strains of Miscrerc.
the strains of the NIiserere were
heard as the procession approached
the chapel and the cardinal arch
priest Merry del Val, and the cardinal
camerlengo, Gasparri, took their
places near the casket which was to
receive the body.
As the strains of the Miserere ended.
the pointiffs body was carried in and
the anthem "Exaltabunt Domino" was
again sung. followed by the chanting
of IN Paradism."
Then the solemn ceremony of abso-
luton took place and the choir sang
the 'Iagrediart followed by "Sicut
Cervus." While the last anthem was
being sung. the body was deposited in
the cypress coffin and the major
domO of the vatican, MOnsignOr Sanz
de Samper, covered the face of the
pope with a veil OF white silk and
placed in the coffin the medals struck
during the pontificate of Benedict and
purses of coins in accordance with the
custom.
Cardinal Cagliero, archbishop of
Froscati and the first cardinal clf ated
by Benedict, covered the body with 4
large red veil fringed with gold and
placed at the feet a brass cylinder
upon which was inscribed a succinct
history of the pope's life.
Casket Scaled With Ribbons.
Finally alb olution was, given, the
coffin was sealed by the cardinal
camerIengo and the arch priest with
ribbons of violet silk, and the cover
was screwed down.
The burial act was then read and
formal transfer of the body made by
the sacred college to the chapel of the
basilica. this being duly regarded.
The coffin was thereupon sealed with
the apostolic palace seal. then with
the seals of the basilican chapter, the
arch priest and CamerleHgo.
The cypress coffin in which the
body rested was placed in a lead cas-
ket, the ends of which were immedi-
ately soldered and both were depos-
tied in a hardwood casket surmount-
ed by a wooden cross and the pope's
coat of arms with tiara and the brief
Latin inscription:
The body of Benedict, the Fif-
teenth, supreme pontiff, who lived six
ty-seven years. occupied the throne of
st. Peter seven years and died jar
uary %. 1922"
The casket was then transferred to
the crypt in the left lateral nave near
the entrance to st. Peters. last absolu-
tion was given and Benedict XIV was
left to his rest beneath the flagstones
which are trod by thousands of pill
grims annually.