SERIOUS ILLNESS OF THE HOLY FATHER

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 29, 16 July 1903, Page 20

SERIOUS ILLNESS OF THE HOLY FATHER

The following is a summary of the principal cable messages received regarding the condition of his Holiness the Pope since our last issue :—: — On Wednesday of last week Dr. Mazzoni, after applying cocaine, punctured the thorax and extracted 800 grammes of sanguineous fluid from the pleura, which afforded the Poj c much relief. It was then considered that his Holiness might possibly live for three days The Kaiser, on Sunday when praying aboaid his yacht, concluded with the wards : ' The world needs great and good men. May the Almighty grant the Pope many more years of life.' On Thursday the news was more reassuring, as we were informed that his Holiness had a fairly quiet night, his pulse being frequent but regular. The evening bulletins, issued on July 10, stated that the Pope's condition was grave, the depression had increased, and the pleuratic liquid was accumulating rapidly. On the same date his Holiness had a loiu»- conference with Cardinal Rampolla, and was remarkably lucid. On leaving the Vatican Dr. Mazzoni intimated that the Pope was no worse. Towards morning the Pope experienced great difficulty in breathing, and the discomfort increased the or>pression, and the pulse became weak. An operation was performed by the medical men, who extracted 2fb of serohernatic fluid. According to a message dated Rome, July 11-, the Pope was so active that he disregarded the injunction to remain in bed, and often walked without assistance to his armchair, where the doctors generally found him. and ordered him to return to bed. Replying to their

remonstrances, he said that he wished to die standing. it i- bulletm issued on Sunday evening stated that his Holiness spent a fairly quiet day in bed. His Holiness is reported to have remarked to a Cardinal : ' I have l.efen in great danger, but I feel that it hae disappeared.' On Monday his pulse was stronger. He spent a eneorful evening, and the improvement was maintained. ,v ♦ v- if , mes sage received on Tuesday night stated that his Holiness is becoming weaker and breathing more difficult. He conversed with the Cardinals during the evening with great difficulty, articulating monosy£ lables and his memory was less clear. The Pope made a slight rally late in the evening, and conversed with Cardinal Satolli lucidly regarding the Biblical Committee The Pope had a further relapse at midnight. His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore, has left for Rome. From a cable message received by us on Tuesday we learn that his Eminence Cardinal Moran left for the Eternal City on Monday. t , ,, The follow 'n£ letter from the Right Hon. R. J Seddon was read in the Sacred Heart Basilica, Wellington, on Sunday morning :— ' Premier's Office, Wellington July 12, 1903. Dear Archbishop Redwood,— At this time not only yourself and priests, but the laity of your Church, will be greatly exercised, and your heartfelt sympathy and fervent prayers will be unceasingly offered to the Almighty on behalf of his Holiness, the head of your Church. I had the great honor and pleasure of an audience with him, and in his time of affliction my fervent hope and earnest prayer is that God may give him strength and comfort him in his hour of trial. It may be some solace to you to k,now that through his Excel 1 en cv the Governor and Secretary of State our sympathy has been officially extended. ' It is almost hoping against hope to anticipate recovery, but as a good and faithful servant an everlasting reward will assuredly follow, and his good works will live after him and humanity benefit thereby.— Believe me, dear Archbishop, yours very sincerely. R. J. Seddon.' King Edward's autograph letter delighted the Pope also Mr. Seddon's telegram. The Vatican sends to the British Ambassador daily messages for transmission to King Edward. A message received on Wednesday morning reported that the Pope was wasting rapidly, his eyes only showing signs of life. Renter stated that his 'Holiness was sinking rapidly.