The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1961-08-04

where he had gone for a few
weeks rest as had been his
custom for many summers.
On that day he showed
symptoms of general depres-
sion, and the doctors consid-
cred it advisable to have him
return to Rome as soon as his
strength permitted.
The Cardinal made the 100
mile trip back to Rome with
out difficulty on the morning
of July %, travelling by am
bulance.
That day, however, his con-
dition worsened, and despite
the efforts of doctors he suf-
fered during the night an
acute crisis Of the circulatory
system. Witnesses at his bed
side said Cardinal Tardini inn
mediately u nderstood the
gravity of his condition. Watt
cum and Extreme Unction
were administered by Arch
bishop Antonio Samore and
b. the Cardinals personal
secretary, Msgr. Angelo di
Pasquale.
AT the same time Pope
John, then at his summer resi-
dence at Castelgandolfo, was
informed of the Cardinals
condition.
IN THE EARLY HOURS Of
the morning of July 30 Cardi-
nal Tardini failed steadily.
Archbishop Samore offered
Mass in a room adjoining the
sick room, and the Cardinal
made the responses of the
Mass in a strong, clear voice.
After Mass Archbishop Sa-
more recited the prayers for
the dying, and again the
Cardinal recited the re-
sponses.
A little before 4 am a
phone call was put in to
Castelgandolfo TO tell the
Pope that the doctors no long
er had any hope for the
Cardinals recovery. The Pope
then went at once to his
chapel and offered Mass for
him. hWen he finished Mass
at ASS am, Pope John was
informed that Cardinal Tar
DIM had died while the Mass
was in progress.
POPE JOHN CAME inn
mediately TO the Vatican
apartment of the Secretary
of State and knelt for a long
time in prayer at his bedside.
He then attended Mass for
Cardinal Tardini in his prl-
vate chapel.
Later in the morning Pope
John gave directions for the
solemn funeral services. He
returned to Castelgandolfo
after visiting Nicola Cardinal
Canal, president of the Ponti-
fical Commission for Vatican
City, who was gravely i'll with
bronchial pneumonia aggra-
waited by circulatory ailments.
Nj S S a & of coincidence
flowed into the Vatican from
such dignltaries as Italian
President Giovanni Gronchi
and Premier AmlntOre Fan.
FAM. The Cardinals remains
lay in state in the Hall of
Congregations during three
DAYS OF solemn mourning.
On the evening of the day
OF the death Archbishop Sa-
more appeared before the
cameras Of the Italian tele-
vision networks to speak Of
Cardinal Tardini. His voice
choked with emotion several
times.
lie told the television audi
ence that the death OF Cardi-
nal Tardlni did not come as
a surprise to his close as
sociates. The Cardinal could
not hide in these last months
that everything he did was
done by sheer drive" Arch.
bishop Samore said.
"HE WAS ALIVE, but only
through a constant battle
against death. almost as
though he continued to live
out of a duty Of faithfulness
and obedience" he added.
Cardinal Tardini's old and
close collaboration, Giovanni
Battista c Cardinal Montini,
Archbishop of Milan, also
paid tribute to the dead Cardi.
nal. In 1883 Pope Plus XII
disclosed that the two men
who we're both at that time
officials OF the Secretariat of
State, had asked him not 10
make them cardinals, though
he had planned to do so. Pope
Plus granted their request,
but conferred on them priv,