Not yet Slain.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 11, 13 March 1902, Page 17

Not yet Slain.

We confess ourselves unable to fathom the cause of the mysterious thirst of the newspaper correspondents for the gore of Leo XIII. But the fact remains that they have slain him oftener than any living sovereign of the present day. And yet the great White Father has lived to see his ninety-second birth-day, the twenty-fourth anniversary of his coronation, and the Bilver jubilee of his career as Roman Pontiff. And this is the statement made a few weeks ago regarding his health and prospects of life by his physician, Dr. Lapponi, to a representative of the Associated Press • ' For years the Pope has not enjoyed such perfect health. He never fails to fast on Friday, and sometimes on other days. The principal precaution I insist upon is the keeping of his rooms at an even temperature of 65 degrees, especially as he is most careless about himself. He frequently retires without properly adjusting his flannels about his chest. When I remonstrate, he says he does not want to coddle himself.' When asked if the Pope should remain as strong as at present, how long he would live, Dr. Lapponi answered : ' I do not care to speculate on that question, but there is no reason why he should not reach the age of Gregory IX., who was a centenarian.' This (said the Associated Press despatch) would mean eight years more of life, which would make Leo's pontificate longer than that of St. Petei, and even longer than that of Pius IX., who reigned for 31 years.