LAST HOUR OF POPE PIUS XI.

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20728, 11 February 1939, Page 7

LAST HOUR OF POPE PIUS XI.

A PEACEFUL PASSING ARTICULATING A LATIN PRAYER FINAL SCENE AT THE BEDSIDE (United Fress Assn.—Elec. TeL Copyright) VATICAN CITY, Feb. 10 His Holiness Pope Pius XI. died at 4.31 a.m. to-day (Greenwich time), a few minutes after the administration of extreme unction. 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 Church dignitaries were summoned to the private apartments and Monsignor Camillo de Romas, sacrist to the Vatican 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 be 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 wiTTUe in state in the Vatican Hall. Cardinal Pacelli, who temporarily assumed the headship of the Roman Catholic Gluurch, has convoked the cardinals from all over the world to meet on February 28 to elect a new* Pope. When the Pope’s relapse occurred, 200 cardinals and bishops were assembling for week-end ceremonies in celebration of the 17th anniversary of His Holiness’ coronation, and the tenth anniversary of the Concordat with Italy.