WORK FOR PEACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23269, 11 February 1939, Page 15

WORK FOR PEACE

CHUKCH AND STATE HOSTILITY TO COMMUNISM WIDESPREAD INFLUENCE A DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR With tho death of Popo Pius XI. ono of the most momentous reigns in tho long history of the Papacy has ended. It is not as yet possible to judge the historical significance of this pontiff with any finality, but it can bo said that even moro than any of tho Popes of the last century—all of whoso reigns are remembered for remarkable historical events—Popo Pius XI. played an outstanding part in tho temporal affairs of tho world, and ruled over the 300,000,000 souls of his faith well and wisely. The commcncment of Pius XT.'s rule coincided with tho rebuilding of Europe after the prodigious shock of the World War, In such a situation any Popo might have been excused had he devoted all his time, not to an extension of the Papacy's reputation, but to tho safeguarding of its position in a changing Italy. Not only, however, did Pius accomplish more in Fascist Italy for tho reestablishment of the temporal power of the Papacy than his immediate forerunners had been able to achieve in much more equable years, but he also spread the international diplomatic influence of tho Vatican farther afield than it had been for centuries. The Lateiran Treaty The supreme achievement of tho reign of the late Popo was tho Lateran accord with Italy in February, 1929. Pius XL began his rule with tho words: "Pius is a name of Peace, therefore I will bear it," and, assuming tho whole responsibility for his departure from a course followed by his predecessors for almost 60 years, ho more than fulfilled the promise of this declaration. In 1926, Signor Mussolini had expressed a wish that a solution of the conflict between tlie Italian Stato and the Vatican might bo reached. Tho wish was communicated to the Pope, and for the next two years unofficial, semi-official, and eventually official negotiations took place, strictly in secret. That an agreement was concluded bears historic testimony to Signor Mussolini's goodwill in the matter, and to his power of translating aspirations into facts; it also shows how definite was the Pope's desire for jieace and concord at home and abroad, and how much determination there was behind liiis pronouncement that he longed to see "the drawing together again and reconciliation of the nations."

The final execution of a treaty which meant tho triumphal renewal of papal sovereignty was announced with dramatic suddenness on February 11, 1929. It recognised the full property, exclusive dominion, and sovereign jurisdiction of the Holy See over the Vatican, and for this purpose "The City of tho Vatican" was constituted,, in such a manner that there could bo no interference by the Italian Government.

Breach ol 1870 Healed

The treaty meant that Papal rights, which had long been in abeyance, were restored again; that the Pope had won from the ruler of Italy recognition of his historic temporal power. But it was even more than that; it was even more than the recognition by two high contracting parties of the advisability of eliminating every reason for enmity between them, and it was even better than a magnificent gesture toward international concord. "It is," said an English authority shortly afterward, "the greatest attempt made in tho present generation to reinforce the moral health and happiness of the world, because it contains the potentialities by which 'the peace of Christ in the Kingdom of Christ.' can be forwarded."

The time is still too close to the Concordat to appreciate it in its full importance and significance, but more immediately it signalled the healing of a breach caused in 1870, when tho Italian soldiers of the Risorgimento captured the Imperial City and brought about the fall of the Papacy's temporal power. It restored peace between Church and State and gave Pius XL the right to engrave his name in history as "The Pope of the Conciliation." Hatred oJ! Communism Pope Pius XI. vras not conciliatory in all things, however. As Papal Nuncio to Poland, during the time wh?n Bolshevism was stretching out its fingers from Russia into Poland, and when he was not yet a cardinal, and was therefore not in lino for election as Pope, he was tho only envoy who refused to leave the besieged city. At tho same time, from the manifestations ho witnessed, ho acquired an unquenchable loathing for Communism. Later, as Pope, he saw the Church in the Soviet Union, in Mexico, in Spain and in South America menaced by tho Communists; and so he launched an unwavering battle against the "doctrino of the Godless," whi'ch made him and the Roman Catholic Church the foremost antagonists of this doctrine. Tho Pope's personal ardour in leading this crusade was shown by his disregard. of the seriousness of his illness in rising every morning to a requiem mass for tho innocent a ictiins" of the Spanish terror. At his direction, too, all priests and members of; Roman Catholic religious orders prayed incessantly for "the return of peace to Spain." , . . A certain amount of criticism was levelled at the Vatican for its silence during tho Italo-Abyssinian conflict, but the truth was that Pius XL was working out a policy which would have been irrevocably damaged by any active participation in the dispute. Ho was not thinking in terms of politics nor in terms of the present day; he was ! thinking of tho Church of to-morrow. Church in. Distant Lands Ever since the important but often overlooked Encyclical, "Rerum Ecclesiac " of 1926, ho had worked quietly for' tho establishment of the Church outside Europe, encouraging the pnnciplc of self-government, in the Church in distant lands. In time, according to his policy, tho Church in Africa and Asia was 'to be entirely served by native bishops and clergy, so that when tlie European ealastropho which he envis aged occurred the Church in those two continents viould be as far as possible independent of European leadership and suppor;. Although his hostility to Communism was uncompromising, Pius XL was by no means a» reactionary in his views. On the contrary, he would probably have appeared st.irtlingly democratic to 6onie of his predecessors. How alive no was to the necessity for keeping tho Vatican abreast of the times was shown not onlv by the attention he lavished upon the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holv See. but also by the mental energy with which he flung himself into the modernisation of the Vatican. Breaking all traditions, with only good results, he broadcast his blessing to the world by means of wireless tele- | grapliy. Again, one of the few. recrea-

tions which lie allowed himself wa« listening to radio performances. An* other precedent, in keeping with his broad outlook, was created when ho allowed himself to be interviewed for publication. His interest in tho advancement of science, in aviation, and in motion pictures was as well-informed as it was sincere.

Pope Pius XI. refused to abide by traditions when to break them meant new benefits for the Vatican. Ho continued to ride in the royal portable chair on ceremonial occasions, but lie also delighted in riding in his motorcar.

The late Pope was not dependent on his interest in international affairs for his wide reputation. As a scholar alono he would have been reverenced by tho millions at the head of whose religious life ho stood. He was a scholar at heart, an inquirer into the secrets of tho past, an acute and indefatigable hunter and co-ordinator of facts long forgotten. First as doctor, vice-prefect, and prefect of the famous Ambrosian Library in Milan, then as vice-prefect and prefect of the still more famous Vatican Library, his best 30 years were spent as a librarian. During this period ho wrote more than 70 publications, mostly of a historical nature, and even after his elevation to the Papacy his studies and research wero continued with unabated zeal. His pontifical pronouncements, too, always bore tho nnmistakcablo stamp of tho great thinker and tho clear brain. Alpine Interests

Pius XL was moro than a scholar, however. Indeed, when his influence in international as well as religious affairs is taken into consideration, his versatility was astonishing. His character presented the perfect blending of tho man of thought and the man of action. In his young days ho was recognised as a most competent alpine climber. Of his climbs, three were particularly noteworthy—the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa. Ho was tho first to reach the summit of Mont Blanc from the Italian side, and the route which he "was tho first to traverse is still known after him and his companion. In 1890 he reached the DufourSpitze, on Monte Rosa, being the first to cross the Zumstcin Peak. This ascent he described in the bulletin of the Italian Alpine Club, of which he was a member. Once, on the Glacier of Paradiso, ho rescued a guide who fell into a crevasse. Middle-class Parents

This man, who kept moro in touch with his almost immeasurable spiritual domain than any of his forerunners, who, within tho limits of prudence and peace, courageously exerted a most beneficial influence upon world affairs, and to whoso name the description "great" will probably soon bo applied, was one of six sons of tho middle-class manager of an Italian silk business. He was born, as Achille Ratti, on May 31, 1857, in tho small Lombard town of Desio, in the great metropolitan dioceso of Milan, over which ho was to become Archbishop.

Achille's interests were soon turned to the priesthood, mainly through the influence of his uncle. Don Damiano Ratti, in whose house he uSed to spend his summer holidays. There ho became known to the Archbishop, Monsignore Luigidi Calabiana, who soon recognised and appreciated the youth's love of study and solid piety. He attended tho local seminary, and, after taking his degree in letters, was sent to tho Theological Seminary at Milan. His ability and more than ordinary application caused the Archbishop to enter him at tho Collegio Lombardo, in Rome, where lie took degrees in philosophy, theology, and canon law. In 1879 he was ordained priest and nine years later appointed a doctor of the celebrated Ambrosian Library at Milan, where ho built up for himself the reputation of being a brilliant scientific organiser and a distinguished scholar. This reputation was further consolidated when, after 23 years, ho was called by Pope Pius X. to Rome to assist the prefect of the Vatican Library. He succeeded his superior in 1914. Here he threw himself into tho task of restoring the scientific international relations of the library with students of all countries, and be became honoured by the whole world of culture.

Polish Mission

On April 25, 1918, he was taken from his studies and sent to Poland to inquire into the ecclesiastical state of that country, and to try to bring some kind of order into the chaos resulting from the world war, and from Poland's recovery of her national entity. The country was still occupied by German troops and the people at once became suspicious of the papal nuncio. •Making it known that his mission was purely ecclesiastical and had nothing to do with politics, Mgr. Ratti scrupulously confined himself to this work. His prudence and upright dealing soon won all who came into touch with him and materially assisted in tho settlement of tho country and the restoration of confidence in the Government.

The good results obtained caused the Holy See to enlarge his mission and as apostolic visitor to Russia his supremo impartiality and justice in the face of difficult conditions were largely responsible for the release by the Bolsheviks of many prisoners and hostages, including tho Archbishop of Mohilow and tho Bishop of Minsk. During the troubled years of the war a close friendship had spring up between Ratti and the ruling Pope, Benedict XV., and now, on June 13, 1921, he was created both a cardinal and Archbishop of Milan. Not many months later, in February, 1922, he heard that liis fellow Cardinals had named him Pope. His first action was an earnest indication of the path ho was to follow through the political difficulties before him. For the first time since 1870 a Pope stepped out on to the outer balcony of St. Peter's overlooking the square, and uttered tlie traditional blessing, "urbi et oi'bi," to the crowd of people assembled there. There could have been no more striking token of goodwill toward tho Italian Government.