DEATH OP THE POPE'S ELDEST SISTER.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1709, 28 March 1913, Page 6

DEATH OP THE POPE'S ELDEST SISTER.

Rosa Sarto, the Pope's oldest sister,: died shortly after midday, on- February 11. The Pope's'three unmarried sisters, who lived with their brother when ho was parish priest, bisliop, and oardinal, purposely came to Rome to'reside in a small .house within a stone's-tlirow of the Vatican, at the doctor's suggestion, to alleviate their brother's home-sickness. The sisters spent much of tlioir time in the Pope's coinnany, and often dined at the Vnticnn. They continued to cook his favourite Venetian dishes, darn his stockings, and take earn of their brother, the eamo as when ho was a plain humble priest. • ,

A your ago Rosa, who was almost an octogenarian, was attacked with paralysis, since when she has been bedridden and unable to visit the Pope,' who -regularly had a daily telephonic conversation with her. Recently she had another attack, and her case became hopeless. On February. 10 the Pope telephoned his blessing, ris it was feared that she would die during the right. 110 also sent two Venetian secretaries to his sisters' house, where they remained until the end came. "When tile secretaries returned ,to the Vatican the Pope guessed the bad news, burst into tears, and retired to his private chapel, where he spent the afternoon in prayer. In tho evening the two surviving sisters went to the Vatican and consoled the Pope, who, though very grieved, bore his calamity with resignation. ,