Evening star., 1922-01-21

By the Associated Press.
ROME. January 81 (5:30 p.m.).-A
bulletin issued at this hour says:
The state of the holy father be-
came worse during the day. Tie
respiration is more and more painful
ana difficult and the heart continu-
ously weaker" The bulletin was
signed by Drs. Marehiafava, Bat
tistini and Bignanini.
Pope benedI.:. mas lapsed into a state
of coma. says the Epoca in an edition
just issued.
The newspaper says a fresh con-
sultation of the physicians was to
have been held at noon, but that after
seeing his holiness DIR. Marchiafava,
declared further consultations were
useless and that he did not intend to
make another visit.
Slowly Expiring.
Pope Benedict became appreciably
weaker about midday today, and the
period of slumber in the morning dis
appeared. His general condition had
become worse and he seemed to be
slowly expiring.
Prince Chigi-Albani entered the
Pope's apartment at 1890 o'clock. 1t
is his duty to take possession Of the
apartment in case of death of the
pontif and to act as marshal of the
conclave.
Prof. Battistini examined the Pope
the room declared the situation the
gravest, the pontiff's condition, he
said, being hopeless.
Hope i'm Prayers.
The only hope remaining, said Mgr.
PizZardo, undersecretary of state, in
the presence of a company of prelates
and diplomatists: lay In the prayers
that we and all the faithful through
out the world offer for the recovery OF
the holy father"
"As to human science" he added, sit
has exhausted it's resources"
About II o'clock Pope Benedict. on
seeing Mgr. Nassalli Rocca, the new
Pope formerly was archbishop, enter
ed into conversation with him, and
also with Bishop Menzani. tho Bishop
of P1aisance. speaking just as If giv-
ing regular audience. -
Ray OF Hope Returns.
Immediately after the morning con-
sultation of his physicians the Pope
had a quiet spell. His respiration
was less irregular. and after he had
expressed a desire to rest he turned
on his side and fell asleep i'm
mediately. The physicians were sur
prised at this turn in the case. and
thought there might be some hope for
llio HolIueSS IL lie were dDle 10 sleep
three or four hours.
The Pope dozed from 8 until 9
o'clock. when a cordial was ad-
Ininistered to him. Today being the
fete day Of St. Agnes, patron Of
Capranica College, in which he was a
youthful student, the Pope asked to
be shown a small statue of the saint
with which the students of the COL
lege had presented him. The statue
was placed on the altar of the chapel,
where a number of masses were said.
The worst period for the Pope dur
daybreak. He was extremely low at
this time, gasping for breath and ap-
Earently suffering intense agony.
Shortly after 1880 o'clock the sun be-
gan to peep through the mists on the
Alban hills. shedding a roseate glow
through the clouds. The attendants
and prelates who were present went
10 the window, one of them remark
ing, Now it is dawn; it brings hope"
Again Reported Worse.
Shortly after 8 o'clock the physi-
clans gave out their bulletin, an
nouncing that the Pope YVES worse.
Then came the slight Improvement to-
his holiness was resting easier. The
cardinals then began to appear to
make their visits. Among the first
were noted Cardinal Merry del Val,
CdfQlndl Laurent anu cardinal van.
nutelli. The foreign ambassadors.
anxious for news, also began to send
in requests for information on the
pontiff's condition.
Cardinal Gasparri. who was with the
Pope from $50 o'clock until 9:45, met
in the ante-chamber shortly after
that hour all the diplomatists in
Rome. who called personally for news.
Referring to the Pope's dozing spell,
which the physicians interpreted IA
vorably, the cardinal said the situa-
fion unfortunately remained extreme
ly grave.
Anxious Moments Passed.
Throughout the night there was al
most absolute silence at the Vatican,
with only few guards pacing up and
down and here and there various at
tendants performing their tasks. The
top floor, where the Pope's apartments
are, was almost deserted save for one
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