HOLY EASTER RECALLS CHRISTIAN VIRTUES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 71, 25 March 1940, Page 7

HOLY EASTER RECALLS CHRISTIAN VIRTUES.

HOMILY BY THE POPE. People Tormented By War Or Living In Fear. PAPAL MASS CELEBRATED. United Tress Association.—Ci-pyrigbt. (Received 11.30 a.m.) VATICAN" CITY, March 24. The Pope, in a Latin homily at the Easter Papal Mas?. said: "It at present nearly all peoples are either tormented by war or are living in fear and suspense, nevertheless holy East?r reealls the Christian virtues iof faith, hope an<l charily which to!day are so greatly needed. "Christianity a.»surcs ln-j>e of peace to all who practl-e it. You well know in what times we are living. Coiwr,] between peoples ha« failed initially. Treaties solemnly stipulate,! ha\e ln-cn changed and violated. "No longer is the voice of brotherly love and friendship heard. Everything; genius has invented or study and experience has produced—all now go to make war or the increase of armaments. Everything that should be dedicated to prosperity or to greater progress of ! peoples is turned to massacre and the ruin of nations. Stained With Brotherly Blood. "Peaceful commerce is languishing, and every class, especially the poorer, is suffering misery. What is worse still is that already many parts of the kind and sea, and even of the skies are stained with brotherly blood.

"Cities, villages and countries arc terrorised and set on fire and devastated by bombardment, and innocent citizens, old and young and sick are deprived of their roofs and often killed. "Whence can come hope but from Christ? Meantime, we who exercise universal paternity pray tc the Redeemer to grant concord and unity to kings, princes and ail Christian people." The Pope afterwards imparted Apostolic blessings to crowds kneeling in the square.