THE POPE'S WILL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3046, 23 January 1892, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE POPE'S WILL.

A Paris correspondent telegraphed recently : —" I hear to-night the Popo, though not dangerously ill ,is visibly losing health and strength. The intestinal complaint, which lias hitherto been the only ailment of Loo XIIL, now produces great exhaustion, followed by coma, and other alarming symptoms indicating gradual paralysis. I may add that the Pope made his will last month. Tho document is on patin, and commences with the beautiful recognition of the special rolo of the present Pontificate,followed by a humble confession of human weakness, and an appeal to tho merits of Christ and to the heroic precedents of his valiant saints, including , St. Joachim, father of tho blessed Virgin Mary, and the patron saint of the Pope. Contary to all previous announcements, the sovereign Pontiff distinctly disclaims all personal inclination in the matter of the choice of hie successor. The actual passage of the will on this subject: is substantially as follows :—"Peter, tho repentant and loving disciple of Christ, who spoke by the mouths of my predecessors and by my own, will diffuse the infinite charity of the Godhead by him who takes from my dead hand the ring and seal of the fisherman." The Pope then refers to the carpenter's house at Nazareth, which he describes as the divine temple of that labour worship which is the highest prayer of our fallen nature, and which has made the ewe*t on man's brow the unction of the present grace and tho pledge of glory after doath. Another will, referring to temporal matters, is in the hands of four cardinals. This, of course, is secret, but it ie safe to eay that the bulk of the property of the Holy See is in the Bank of England, and in freehold and leasehold investments of the United Kingdom. So much is this the case, that if by any vici.ssitudo the Pope left Rome the pecuniary interests of the Catholio world would be safeguarded by guarantees of the highest order in England and the United States."