THE NEW POPE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 121, 4 March 1939, Page 5

THE NEW POPE

FIRST PUBLIC UTTERANCE. r A BROADCASTED APPEAL. JUSTICE. AND CONCORD. (United Press Association— Copyright.; (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) VATICAN CITY, March 3. The new Pope, in a broadcast in Latin, appealed impassionedly for international justice and concord to enable the peoples to continue in civilised progress. The programme of the Pontificate, he said, would be in furtherance of world peace and charity. His Holiness spoke for four minutes in a clear, ringing voice, providing a great contrast with the tones of his predecessor. Members of the Vatican are very impressed with the vigour with which the Pope dealt with'the forces of disruption throughout the world. After the election ritual the Pope returned to his conclave cell, No. 13, because he was extremely fatigued, aiid he did not desire the tiring removal to the Papal apartments until to-morrow. After the “Angelus” was chanted at the basilica of St. Peter, and the departure of the last of the faithful,- the Pope descended the stairs of the grotto of St. Peter, where Pius XI was buried. The new Pope expressed a wish to be alone before the tomb of the man who was his teacher, and who frequently referred to him as ‘.‘Our beloved son.’; He knelt for five minutes at the tomb, and then went to his cell, wherein was placed, at his wish; the simple bedstead on which his ipre4 ecessor died. CORONATION TO-MORROW WEEK (Received This Day, 10.10 a-™-) . ROME, March 3. It is officially announced that. March 12 is the-date of the coronation of the new Pope. > WORLD COMMENT FAVOURABLE. . GERMANY AND ITALY DISAPPOINTED. LONDON, March 3. World comment is generally favourable toward the election of Cardinal Pacelli as the new Pope. There is some disappointment in Germany and Italy. In Rome political circles consider that the election constitutes a setback to Signor Mussolini because the new Pope is a strong anti-Fascist. In Berlin the newspapers, which were previously; critical \f Cardinal Pacelli, are now neutral. ' Paris believes that the new Pope will carry on the policy, of his predecessor. Madame Tahois says: “The election will tend to change Herr Hitler s and Signor Mussolini’s plans. Their demands undoubtedly will be whittled down, and expressed more diplomatically than if a weaker Pope had been elected. AMERICA GRATIFIED. NEW YORK, March 3. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times’’ reports that persons in official and semi-official life generally expressed gratification jat the election of Cardinal Pacelli. Particular interest lias been occasioned in his election because of the friendships he formed when he made a. private visit to the United States in 1936, during which he was the guest of Mr Roosevelt. . ' The Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, said that the selection with a- matter of satisfaction and pleasure. MUSSOLINI’S CONGRATULATIONS.

HOME, March 3. Signor Mussolini has telegraphed his congratulations to the new Pope. “SCH;OLAR AND LINGUIST.” NEW ZEALAND TRIBUTE. WELLINGTON, March 3. “Every Roman Catholic rejoices on the selection of the Pope,” said Monsignor Connolly, Administrator of the archdiocese of Wellington, when asked to comment on the event. “Catholics joy and surety is based on the belief that the selection, of the two hundred and sixty-first Pope was made under divine influence. Although following in the footsteps of his Divine Master ho is the ruler of a kingdom not of this world. Still the affairs of the world must be a concern of his, inasmuch as they have a bearing on the welfare of the Kingdom of God. I' ol this reason they felt J>l eased at the selection, .of Cardinal Pacelli. “His ability as a great linguist and scholar will help to honour the Papacy. His services as Secretary of State filled them with confidence in his efficiency in diplomacy. His human qualifications must he outstanding when the College of Cardinals followed the most unusual line of electing as Pope a Secretary of State. Another reason for confidence was that the selection was made so quickly.” The election of the new Pope will he the occasion for special observances in Roman Catholic services on the day of the Coronation, which is usually a Sunday.