Pope writes to congress

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33154, 19 February 1973, Page 13

Pope writes to congress

(N.Z.P. A.-Reul er—Copyri ght) MELBOURNE, February 18. The Papal legate, Cardinal Shehan, today officially opened the fortieth Eucharistic Congress at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne.

The opening was atended by more than 4000 people. During his opening speech, Cardinal Shehan read a letter from Pope Paul. In his letter, the Pope said that he regretted being unable to attend the congress and commended its organisers, saying it had tackled the immense preparations with zeal and care. Cardinal Shehan, in his address, praised the United States President, Mr Richard Nixon, for the speed with which he had ended the Vietnam war. Cardinal Shehan, 75-year-old Archbishop of Baltimore, said, “The President made a very real and effective effort to end the war and free all the prisoners.” The Cardinal said, however, that he felt the resumption of bombing of North Vietnam last December had been a “tragedy.” “I was not in sympathy with it then and nor am I now,” he said. But, he added, “President Nixon was up against a very difficult problem, at that time. He is not a man without conscience.” Cardinal Shehan told the congress, “I feel we have a strong moral obligation to the people of South Vietnam

to help them now as much as we can and I am certain America has no intention of abandoning this obligation.