The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-02-11


 presided.
 It was believed that the cardinals might select today the date of the ceremonial secret conclave at which the new pope will be elected.
 Principal Event Today
 The principal event today of the nine-day funeral ceremonies for the late pope was the removal of the body from the Sistine chapel to the basilica of St. Peters. This impress sive professional ceremony was set for 5 p. m A bier was prepared for the body in the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament.
 There, starting tomorrow the peo- pie who showed today such sincere mourning for Pope Plus, will Ale past his body to pay homage,
 S'he Popes body was clad In a white wool robe with a red hooded cape hanging loosely over the head and shoulders so that the face could be seen plainly. The white gloved htnds were clasped over silver crncifiX.
 Tn the Sistine chapel, black hang ings had hastily replaced the red ones under which Pope Plus was to have been honored with solemn ceremony tomorrow on the l7th an- niversary of his coronation.
 Italian Grief Is Deeper
 The mourning Of Italians for the Pope seemed even deeper than that which normally marks the death of q head Of their Catholic church. There was deep atmosphere of sor- row. Italian newspapers stopped their polemics on international ques. tons. All celebratory public activi- ties were suspended, The cafes were unusually quiet,
 Buildings from medieval palaces to bright modernistic apartment houses flew the Italian flag with a piece of black bunting surmounting 1t,
 Ordinary people, whose patriotism was being aroused by anti-Frcnch ar- ticles in newspapers and magazines stopped all discussion Of interna- tional affairs.
 The Fascist grand council, supreme body Of the Fascist hierarchy, held but a short meeting last night, in- stead Of the long one planned on national defense and the anti French campaign, and said in e com. nunique:
 Grand Council Meets
 'The grand council met at 10 D.. m. The council approved the fol- lowing order Of the day.
 ""The Fascist grand council for- wards respectful homage to the inem- ory Of Pope Plus xI, who strongly desired reconciliation between the church and th eftalian state. This most great event, which after 60 years of val nattemptS solved the Roman question with the Lateran treaty and established by means of . concordat the collaboration be. tween @tate and church, was in. tended to safeguard the Fascist and Catholic unity of the Italian peo. ple.'"
 As the cardinals held their first meeting, Vatican officials denied that any date had been considered for the world conclave on the election Of the 2e2d pope. Nevertheless, Italian newspapers asserted that the con. clave would start during the labt days Of this month.
 Speculation on Successor
 Speculation regarding C successor to the pope centered on the names of Cardinals Latvitraio, archbishop of Palermo; Della Costa, archbishop of Florence, and Piazza, patriarch Of Venice.
 More than is usual. the possibility that Q foreign pope might Dc named this time was discussed in church circles. Here the names Of Cardinals Capello, archbignop of Buenos Aires; HIond, archbishop Of dnesia and Posnania in Poland, and CercJeira, archbishop of Lisbon.
 Cardinal Verdier, archbkhop Of Paris. was mentioned. But fc, like Cardinal echuster, archbishop Of Milan, among the Italian cardinals was held to bc too friendly to the democracies to Do c likely choice. Of United States cardinals, Car dinai Mundelein of Chicago was most frequently mentioned.
 Cardinal villeneuve archbishop Of Quebec, now here, was mentioned.
 After ali the speculation, the feei- ing seemed to Do that an Italian was likely to be elected in the end.
 Leads Cardinals in Prsyer
 Axchbishop Giuseppe Dussoiari led the cardinals and Italian bishops ii prayer at the pepe's bier to start the days ceremonies. and then said mass ifi the small Pauline chapel adjoining tho Vatican building. This nlces replaced the high te deufii which was to have been held in St. peter.s tomorrow to celebrate the joint anniversaries Of the Laterafi eccords and Pope pius f7th anfii- yersary as head of the church.