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Show LEO'S LAST DAY OUTSIDE THE VATICAN. It may be interesting to give a short account (not generally known) of how Leo XIII spent his last morning in Rome before entering the Vatican, which little as he knew it, he was never to leave again. On the 7th of February, Febru-ary, 1N7S, I'ope Pius IX, being seriously serious-ly ill, fell into a critical state, and the Cardinal Camerlengo was Immediately advised of the fact. Not apprehending, : however, any imminent danger. Cardinal Cardi-nal Pecci said his Mass as usual, then fearing that perhaps the change might be more serious than he first realized, he caused his carriage to be brought in haste, went first to confession at St. John Lateran. to his confessor. Padre Daniele, and then hastened to the Vatican, Vati-can, where he found such a number of persons assembled in the "Sala Clementina," Clemen-tina," waiting for news of the Pope's state, that he could hardly pass through. However, they soon made way for the Cardinal Camerlengo, who went in at once to the bedside of the riving Pontiff, with whom he found Cardinals Billio ;ind Panelianco. They told the Pope that the Cardinal Camerlengo was there, and he made a sign of recognition to Cardinal Pecci. smiling, without speaking. The Cardinal Cardi-nal remained near by till the death of i Pius IX, which occurred shortly after, j So, as he drove through the streets of j Rome in that cold, gray February morning of 1S7S. Cardinal Pecci took j his last outside glimpse of the Eternal City, for he: has never been cut of the Vatican from that clay. Then came the Conclave, in which the Cardinal Archbishop of Perugia was solemnly elected ruler of the Universal Church. 'Feb. 20. 1S78. His election to the supreme honor came as an unwelcome unwel-come shock to the humble minded Car-'dinal Car-'dinal and the terrible weight of responsibility re-sponsibility seemed to fairly crush him. The proclamation of the Cardinals' Cardi-nals' choice found the newly elected Pontiff with his face hidden in his i hands, weeping and protesting that he was not worthy of the honor imposed upon him. But right nobly he bore the burden so unwillingly assumed, and took up the duties of the Pontificate with the courage and entire devotion he had given to the various other charges of his life, seeing the hand of God in each new change. |