"PEACE, PEACE"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23269, 11 February 1939, Page 13

"PEACE, PEACE"

POPE'S LAST WORDS SCENE AT THE BEDSIDE FINAL BLESSING IMPARTED WATCHERS WEEP SILENTLY By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 11, 12.40 a.m.) VATICAN CITY, Feb. 10 The Pope's last audible words were: "Peace, peace." He tried to speak at 4 a.m., and those at his bedside realised the end was near. After that high Chui'ch dignitaries were summoned to the private apartments and Monsignor Camillo

de Romas, sacrist to the Vatican City, administered the Last Sacrament eleven minutes before death. The Pope's own confessor, Cardinal Lauri, arrived a few seconds too late. After the last words were heard the Pope's lips were seen to bo moving slowly and Dr. Rocchi said it was occasionally possible to discern that His Holiness was trying to articulate a Latin prayer.

Half a minute before his death the Pope feebly raised his right hand and attempted to make the sign of the cross, imparting the last apostolic blessing of his reign. Those at the bedside fell on their knees and several wept in silence. The Pope's death was proclaimed throughout the Vatican and the city gates were closed. The body will lie in state in the Vatlican Hall.

Cardinal Pacelli, who temporarily assumed the headship of the Roman Catholic Church, has convoked the cardinals from all over the world to meet on February 28 to elect a new Pope.