HOPES FOR PEACE.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16488, 3 April 1919, Page 3

HOPES FOR PEACE.

THE PO'PE AND CONGRESS. AX ENCYCLICAL LETTER. An Encyclical letter from his Holiness the Pope was, by direction of his Grace Archbishop Redwood, read in all the Catholic Churches on Sunday last, The Public Prayers were enumerated, and the times fixed for the same as decreed by the Pope. The lettor is as under:— That for which the whole world has long sighed, which Christianity has implored with such fervent prayer, and for which "We. too, interpreter of the common sorrow, have never ceased to pray with the heart of the father intent on the good of all—that has come in a moment; at last the clash of arms has teased. True, peace has not j*et in solemn fashion brought to an end the great war, but to. peace the .road has been opened happily: with . . the Armistice, which' "has, meanwhile, suspended slaughter and devastation by land, sea, and air; Many and various reasons could be given to explain the suddenness of this event ; but if the supreme reason be sought there is 110 other way but to look above to Him who rules all events. Moved to compassion by the unceasing prayers of His servants, He now lets" humanity breathe again after so many trials and sorrows. While, then, all thanks are being given to the Lord for this wondrous boon, we are glad that many imposing demonstrations of piety have taken place in the Catholic world to that end. It remains now to implore the divine mercy that the crown be put on the great gift accorded us. Soon the delegates of the various nations will meet in solemn congress to give the world' a just and lasting vjeace; no human assembly has ever had before it such serious and complex determinations as they will have to take. Words, then, are not required to show how great need they have of being illumined' from on high that they may carry out their great task well. And, as their decisions will be of supreme interest to all 'humanity, there is no doubt that Catholics, from whom the support of order and civil progress is' a duty of conscience, must invoke divine assistance for ail who take part in the Peace Conference. We desire that that duty be brought before all Catholics. Therefore, venerable brothers, in order that there may come from the Congress shortly to be held that great gift of heaven, true peace founded on the Christian principles of justice, that enlightenment from the lieavenly Father may descend on them, it shall bo your care to order publio prayers in each parish of your dioceses in the way you may think most convenient. As for Us, representing, howover unworthily, Jesus Christ, King of Peace, We shall exert all the influence of Our Apostolic Ministry that the decisions which are to be taken to ensure for ever in the world the tranquility of order and concord be willingly accepted and faithfully carried out* by Catholics everywhere. As harbingers of celestial favours and pledge of Our benevolence, to you, venerable brethren, and to you, clergy and people, We impart from Our heart the Apostolic Benediction. Given at Rome at St. Peter's on the Ist day of 1918, the fifth vear of Our Pontificate. BENEDICTUS, P.P., XV.