Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-01-21
Noted Physicians Called.

Noted Physicians Called.
DR.. Batistini. the Vatican physician,
was called and later DR.. Marchiafava
and other noted medical authorities
were consulted. They diagnosed the
disease as influential bronchitis. His
condition was not at first considered
serious, but early Friday morning
there came a sudden turn for@the
worse, the congestion in the bron-
chi2l cavity spreading to the. lungs.
= As.sooh as It was realised that His
Holiness was suffering from pneu-
were called and every attempt known
to medical science was made to COM
bat the dread malady.
Rallied Friday.
There were apprehensions that the
pope might not survive Friday night
and in fact, there were moments In
the early hours Of Saturday when to
those about him, it appeared he was
expiring. He rallied from this sink
ing spell, nevertheless and during Sat-
urday forenoon fell into a sleep
which lasted nearly an hour and also
took some punishment.
Little, if any, encouragement, how
ever. was derived from this apparent
improvement in the pontifrs condi-
ton. and he shortly became worse
again, although still fighting off the
end with what the physicians describ-
ed as his wonderful powers Of re-
sistance.
Possible Successors.
In the speculation as to who will be
the successor Of Benedict, the most
prominently mentioned is the secre-
tary Of state, Cardinal Gasparri, whose
election would represent an endorse
ment of the policy by him and by
Benedict in the last seven years dur
ing the grave period Of the world war
Another member of the Sacred Col
lege, who is considered as a probable
choice, is Cardinal de lAi, secretary
of Concistorial congregation, which
deals chiefly with the selection and
appointment of archbishops and bish-
ops throughout the world, except the
countries still under the Jurisdiction
OF propaganda fide.
Among the cardinals living in Rome
there is another who has a copsid-
erable following and whose election
would be a new departure since for
several centuries there has not been a
foreign pope on the chair sof St. Peter
namely, Cardinal Merry del Val, who
was secretary Of state under Plus X
Cardinal Merry del Vars parents were
Spanish, and his brother Spanish am
bassador to the court of St. James, but
he has resided almost his entire life
in Italy. where his father was Sapn-
ish ambassador to Italy
All Of the cardinals living outside
of Rome. the selection of the arch
bishop Of Pisa, Cardinal Maffi, an az
tronomer, is considered most proba-
BILE should the Sacred College decide
to select the new pope among the
cardinals now residing in the Eternal
City.
Ceremonies Necessary
''The king is dead, long live the
king" was the cry uttered by the
French nobility at the death bed of
their sovereigns. With regard to the
pope. the succession of the occupant
OF the chair of st. Peter does not take
place so suddenly nor so mechanically.
After the pope is dead several gor-
geous ceremonies must take place. in
cluding a solemn funeral in the basil
lea Of st. Peter, where the body Of the
late pontif lies in state and Is exposed
to the veneration ofSthe faithful
Sought Peace.
Pope Benedict XIV. the 25sth sue
cessor of st. Peter as supreme head
of the Roman Catholic church. began
his pontaicate ON September 6. 1914,
soon after Europe entered upon its
four years Of war. Upon many occa-
aons during the war he endeavOredfto
bring the belligerent nations TO
tain the title which had been afIec-
tionately bestowed upon hsm b. a.
hiEh dignitary Of his communion as