HIS HOLINESS THE POPE

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12242, 11 April 1903, Page 5 (Supplement)

HIS HOLINESS THE POPE

CANNOT BE KEPT QUIET. Rome, March s.—Count Camillo Pecci, after his visit to his uncle, Pope Leo, gave a full account of the Pontiff's condition, saving he would not hesitate to tell, the truth, even were the Pope really ill. "The Pontiff not only is not suffering from any specific illness," remarked the Count, " but it will be difficult to continue to keep him quiet, as he said to me: — ' The doctor wishes I should stay in my room until Monday, but I ~cannot have so rm,nj people waiting, who came to Rome purposely to see me. : If I continue as well as I am at present I shall resume my audiences on Saturday.' "In the meanwhile the ■ Pope has announced that he will assist to-morrow at the usual Lenten sermon, together with the cardinals. Dr. Lapponi would have liked the Pontiff to keep to his bed, so as to regain his strength quicker, but the Pope said:—'l cannot do it. Staying in bed, instead of strengthening me, weakens me.. Besides, I need light and. air. " Yesterday the Pontiff arose at four o'clock 'in the afternoon, but. to-day he got up at nine a.m., and will remain up until the evening. The Pope had his usual conference with the Secretary' of State, Cardinal Rampolla, and employed the remainder of his time in reading the very many telegivwis received, wishing personally to examine each of them-" Count Pecci ended with saying: —" best proof that there is not.- much the matter with the Pontiff is that to-day he had for lunch a good-sized beefsteak. Dr. Lapponi visited the Pope this morning and found Ifim no worse with regard to symptoms of any special illness. The physician has forbidden anyone, to see the Pontiff except the latter's nephew, Count Camillo Pecci, who entered the Popes room as Dr. Lapnoni left it. . ' The fact is that the Pontiff's physical prostration is due to overwork and overexcitement, which, however, -leaves- his mental faculties perfectly , clear, wonderfully so, indeed. Therefore Dr. Lapponi thinks: a few days' rest will restore the Pope to his usual condition. The physician also hopes that the suspension of audiences will induce the numerous pilgrims and notable persons who are now in Roma to abandon the idea of seeing the Pontiff, and thus avoid causing the . latter further fatigue, which might place him in serious danger. - *