HEATH OF THE POPE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3542, 31 January 1922, Page 14

HEATH OF THE POPE.

“ NOT MY WILL, BUT THINE ” ROME, January 22. The Pope’s death was announced to the public early in the morning by the solemn pealing of the bells of the city’s 4000 churches. “God's will be done” was one of the last conscious utterances of Benedict XV. during his long death agony. It filled tile watchers with deep emotion. After receiving the last unction the Pope thanked and blessed the officiating clergy. The Pope’s death throes began at 5.20. The last absolution was given by Cardinal Giorgi. Cardinal Gasparri was called at 5.30, because the Pope had fallen into a state of coma. Dr Cherubini pronounced that death occurred at 6 o’clock. When the Pope regained consciousness on Saturday evening lie asked Cardinal Vico to say mass in his chamber on •Sunday morning, but the wish was fated not to be fulfilled. To those around bis bedside he said, with a smile, “Do you know how much I have spent on doctors during my lifetime? Two lire.” This was the last flicker of intelligence. The Pope’s heart gradually ceased to function, and lie died on the fifth day of his illness. All his strength had not left the dying man. Once he sat up and drank water and expressed his willingness to dress. He had to be gently restrained by the monk (who acted as nurse) and his sister (Countess Persico), who was present with her two sons. There were

also present Cardinal Giorgi and the Pope’s personal attendants. The death room overlooked the great piazza of St. Peter’s, and was provided with only the simplest furniture—a brass bedstead, a writing table, a washstand, and a praying stool. In the courtyard below throughout Saturday afternoon and evening the chief clergy and diplomatists and the leaders of Catholic society waited, while there was an animated scene in the square, crowds waiting until the small hours. Once, when news came that the Pope had rallied, a monk cried : “ A miracle,” and there was excitement until a bulletin was issued that his Holiness was again sinking. The King and Queen of Italy led the national solicitude, and prayed for the Pope in their private chapel. King George sent telegrams of inquiry from London.

The Pope made a, desperate fight for life. In his lucid moments his indomitable will reasserted itself. He conversed with the prelates and nurses. For example, when he was informed that his entourage were praying for the world’s peace, the Pope replied: “I would willingly offer my life for peace.” He rallied at midnight and instructed his major domo to wake him in time for morning service in the chapel adjoining the sickroom. During a lucid interval the Pope eaid to old Dr Battistini : “ My dream was of great and human social questions.” This was reference to the problems of reconstruction after the war. His Holiness also said: “Let us willingly offer our lives for the peace of the world.” Almost his last words were: “If the Lord desires me still to labour for His Church I am ready, but if He says ‘Enough,’ then let llis will be done.” Dr Battistini knelt down and prayed : “ Take me, 0 Lord, but spare the Pope.” The dying man took the sacrament again at midnight, but he could hardly hear the Monseigneur declare: “ The mass is finished,” though the Pope’s lips moved as if in prayer. In his will the Pope expressly forbids the embalming of his body. After the death preparations were immediately begun for the historic ceremonies connected with the death of the Pope. One of the first is the assembly of the cardinals to call the dead Pontiff by name, and when no answer is received the cardinal will remove the fisherman’s ring, the symbol of Papal authority, which is broken and remade for the next Pope. QUESTION OF A SUCCESSOR. ROME, January 22. Many favour the election of Cardinal Gasparri as the next Pope, although the election of a dead Pope’s Secretary of State is almost an unheard-of proceeding. Prince Chigi has assumed charge of the Vatican. The names mentioned for the Papacy are Cardinals La Fontaine and Ratti. The choice is likely to fall on a man who is versed in Statecraft rather than on a theologian. The continuance of the liberal and constructive policy towards the Austrian States is desirable, so Cardinal Gasparri is possible of selection. January 22. The conclave for the election of the Pope will assemble on February 2. January 23. It is generally considered that the Pope’s successor will be an Italian, as France will enter the conclave shorn of three cardinals namely, Cardinals Amette, Dubbourg, and De Cubrieres. The Sacred College at ■present consists of 60 instead of 70 cardinals. Pope Benedict’s sudden death having prevented the fulfilment of France’s expectations of the creation of several new cardinals. The Government, for the first time in the history of United Italy, ordered the municipalities to half-mast their flags. The places of amusement are closed for two days. The action is regarded as most significant. PRAYERS OF SYMPATHY OFFERED. LONDON, January 22. During the morning service in Westminster Abbey the Dean, Dr Ryle, announced the Pope’s death, and added: “Although there exist great differences between the Church of England and the Church of Rome, we are all members of the Great Church throughout the world. Therefore, I ask you to kneel for a few moments in silent prayer, expressing your prayerful sympathy with your fellow Roman-Christians in the loss they have sustained.” MESSAGE FROM IRISH NATION. LONDON. January 22. The authorities at Westminster Cathedral during High Mass this morning received a telegram from Cardinal Gasparri announcing the Pope’s death. The Union Jack and the Papal flags were immediately half-masted. The organ played the “ Funeral March ” and the “ De Profundis ” was recited. The official requiem mass will be celebrated on January 27. It will be attended by the Diplomatic Corps and public representatives. Cardinal Bourne will leave for the Vatican to-morrow. Messrs Arthur Griffiths and M. Collins telegra'phed to Cardinal Gasparri to convey condolences on behalf of the Irish nation. All amusements and other fixtures arranged for Monday in Dublin have been postponed. body lying in state. ROME, January 24. The Pope is lying in State in the chapel of the Sacrament, the second apartment to the right when entering St. Peter's. Immense crowds are paying homage, including many peasants, and affecting scenes are witnessed. Thousands are kneeling on the pavement of the church praying" for the soul of the departed. The public is uot allowed in the chapel, but the features of the dead Pope are plainly seen through a grating. The Pope is dressed in his pontifical robes and a white mitre. The body is

guarded by members of the Pope’s noble guards. The body late in the dav was carried to the crypt, where it will be buried. Extreme simplicity will characterise the funeral. THE LAST RITES. ROME, January 26. The Pope’s coffin consisted of three casingSj the first of cypress wood lined with silk, the second of lead, and the third of elmwood. After the body had been placed in the cypress casket Monsigneur Galli read an account of the Pope’s life from a parchment scroll which was placed in a copper cylinder and laid in the coffin, together with a red velvet purse containing specimens of all the medals struck during the Pope’s_ reign. Tire casing was sealed by two violet silk ribbons placed crosswise over the lid, the lead casing being similarly' sealed. Tile Pope was buried to-day. The body was'placed in the coffin in the Chapel of the Holy Sacrament. Absolution was then read, and the body was carried to the vaults, where it was interred with as little ceremony as possible. SPECULATION IN ITALY. ROME, January 28. Interest In the election of the i’ope is growing. The issue lies in a strong division between the Italian members of the Sacred Heart College on the Roman question, with Cardinal Raffi at the head of the irreeoncilables, and Cardinal Gasparri, who inclines towards a reconciliation with Italy. This division gives rise to specu lation whether a foreigner may not be chosen from the cardinals representing the neutral European States. It is not expected that more than 57 cardinals will participate in the election, 31 of whom will be Italians. If one of the latter is chosen it will have to be one who is not associated with the extremist views of either party on the Italian question. REQUIEM MAS'S FOR THE POPE. LONDON January 2/. There was a. record attendance at Westminster Cathedral at the celebration of requiem mass for the Pope, those present including representatives of the King and Queen Alexandra, foreign ambassadors, and military attaches from the embassies. The scene was impressive and striking. ELECTION OF A POPE. INTERESTING CEREMONIES. The Popes are now elected by the Sacred College sitting in what is called a Conclave,

derived from the Latin word conclave* which means a room or cage which can be locked up. The Popes have been elected by Cardinals in one way or another for more than eight centuries. For it was just before our Norman Conquest that Nicholas 11, without excluding- the participation of the lower clergy and the Roman people, entrusted the election of the Pontiff to the cardinal bishops. Less than a quarter of a century afterwards the whole power passed to the Sacred College. But the great l’ope AlexIII, who died in 1181, ordained that the Cardinal Bishops and Cardinal Deacons should share with the Cardinal Bishops u» the election of his successor. It was 55 also who ordained that no election should be valid which was not ratilied by two thirds of the votes; this was to do away with the curse of anti-Popes, which was so destructive to the power of the Church. With a single exception, at the election of Martin V, the Colonna Pope, these two ordinances of Alexander 111 have always been observed. But 30 prelates who were not members of the Sacred College took part, as delegates of the six nations represented at the Council of Constance, with the Sacred College in his election. Every Cardinal, even if excommunicated or under censure, is entitled to vote, rmless he has been deposed or formally deprived of hie vote by the lata Pope, or has resigned Iris Cardirialate. The institution of the Conclave dates from the latter part of the thirteenth century. The circumstances are so picturesque that they will always be remembered. An. interregnum of two years and nine months had followed upon the death of Clement IV, m 1&9. Ihe seventeen Cardinals who nere voting might have prolonged it indefinitely if the population of Viterbo had not grown impatient and shut them up in the Papal Palace with nothing to eat and drink but- bread and water. The austerity of their confinement was triumphant over their intrigues, says the sardonic Goyau, but he does net mention that the nopulaco were supported by Charles of Anjou, who seconded their efforts by taking off part of the roof when their gaol diet failed to bring the Cardinals to their senses. They resisted for a while, and to show their defiance, dated their letters from the Roofless Palace. Eix months after that unconscionable brother of the most saintly king who ever sat on a throne. St. Louis of F’ranee, had taken them in hand. the Sacred College gave in and elected Gregory X. The caprice of the populace of Viterbo, says Goyau, became part of the Pontifical law. By an ordinance of ’274, made by this very Pope Gregory, whoso election had been so protracted, the electing Cardinals were subjected to a rigorous seclusion. The hermit’s fare was also included in these primitive rules. Gregory restricted tile Cardinals to a single dish at the end of the third day. If they did nob come to an agreement at the end of eight days they were further restricted to bread and water and a little wine. Time and a Bull of Clement VI (1342-1352) tempered these last severities, Pius TV, in 1562, Gregory V, in 1621, and Clement XII, in

1731, codified and defined the existing legislation on the subject. Aocording to the strict letter of the law, any Roman Catholic male is eligible for the papacy; John XIX, elected Popo in 1024, ftnd perhaps Hadrian V, elected in 1276, were actually laymen. The Anti-Pope, Felix Y, who reigned from 1439-1449, was certainly a layman, for ho was Duke of Bavoy. In the first eleven centuries of tho Papacy, deacons and priests were habitually elected Popes; in fact, up to the end of the ninth century only one bishop was elected Pope. Formosus (891-896). Gregory VII, the famous Hildebrand, the Pope-maker, the greatest, possibly of all the Popes, was only a deacon at his election, and an episcopal consecration went with the election.