The Omaha guide., 1939-03-04

were Cardinal facelll; the Peni-
Tertiary OF the Church, Lorenzo
Cardinal Lauri; Count Franco Ra.
til, the Pontiff's nephew; Monsi-
gnor De Romans. the Pope's sa-
tristan: a few nurses. and other
dignitaries. DIR. Milani was called
in to care for the Pope in his dy-
ing moments. He had been i'll him.
self.
Monsignor DIS Romans admin
istered Extreme JUNCTION, and the
dying Pontiff by movements of
head and hands showed that he
was participating in the rites. AT
$50, Monsignor De Romans APP
preached the Pope and asked him
to repeat the prayer: "Jesus,
Mary and Joseph. may my soul
expire in peace with YOU" 1t was
then that Plus lifted his hand in
blessing and said his last feeble
player for peace. As the feeble
words ended. the Pontiff's head
turned gently to the side of its
pillow. Life was gone.
Attendants Choked
With Grief
The dignitaries and doctors at
the bedside were choked with
their grief and Cardinal Pacelli
could hardly speak as he pronoun-
ced the official statement of death
after calling softly the name of
the Pontiff he had served long
and well.
As news went out over the world
that the Pope of Peace was dead,
men of all nations were stricken
by grief. The first news came to
America in a National Broadcast
ing company program from a no.
tel overlooking St. Peters square,
where Phillips Mckenzie had
maintained an 1s-month vigil
Donna Camilla Ratti, the Pope's
sister, was reported confined to
her bed because of shock. She col
lapsed at the deathbed after kiss
ing her brothers hands.
The Pontiff's body, robed in the
white garments of the Papacy, was
laid out in the Sistine chapel,
watched over by members of the
Noble Papal guard. Among the
guards was Bruno Benziger of
New York, a secret Chamberlain
of the Cape and Sword. Masses
We're said for the Pope in Vatican
chapels, and Cardinals and Bish-
ops who had gathered for the au-
dience Plus had planned to give
the bier to pay their respects to
their departed master.
Bitter grief reigned in the Vat
lean, but the inspired machinery
of the Church worked on to give
the dead Pontiff the honors due
him as Christ's Vicar on Earth
and to plan for the conclave that
will choose his successor. Cardinal
Pacelli took over active direction
of Vatican affairs. Diplomats and
Churchmen filed in to pray for
the Pope as he lay in death. Thou
sands of Romans jammed the
square outside st. Peters, stand
ing about almost dumb with grief.
wanting to be close to their Bish-
OPP and Holy Father.
Body Transferred to
Chapel in st. Peters
On the day after death, the
Pope's body was carried in sol
emn procession from the Sistine
chapel to the Chapel of the Sacra-
ment in st. Peters Bisilica. Fifty
thousand people jammed tn e
square outside st. Peters. all but
a few striving in vain to get a
glimpse of the Pope's body as it
was moved from one resting place
to another. The fisherman's ring,
symbol of the Papal power was
broken, and 81 of the Cardinals
met to plan the rule of the Church
until a new Pope is chosen. 1t was
reported that the Italian Bishops
were given the text of the add
ress Plus had planned for them.
Envelopes, each containing q /,
000-lire note, Were presented to
the Cardinals and the ITO Bishops
of ItaI@y who bod Gonna ~ poua