VATICAN’S OFFER

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 229, 24 June 1941, Page 8

VATICAN’S OFFER

Inquiries About Anzac Prisoners Of War A cable message from Sydney published j-esterday announced that uetvs of Australia and New Zealand prisoners of war in Italy had been broadcast from the Vatican, City radio station to the Apostolic Delegation in Sydney, and that it 'vas hoped that weekly transmissions would be sent from the Vatican giving the whereabouts and health of Arizae prisoners It was stated by Archbishop Panico, Apostolic Delegate, that the Pope had organized a service of assistance for prisoners of war missing persons, and civil internees The Holy See was not only inquiring about soldiers or internees, lint was sending personal messages to them Dr. Panico asked next-of-kin to communicate with him respecting tnen reported missing in Grrece. Crete or Libya When the matter was referred to Archbishop O’Shea in Wellington ves terday he showed an eager desire to make it possible for the next-of-.kin of New Zealand soldiers, who may have been reported missing in recent earn patens in the Mediterranean areas to benefit by the service offered b.v the Vatican He said that if next-of-kin in New Zealand would forward the names and addresses of missing soldiers Io hint nr .Monsignor Mcßae. lie would forward them on to Dr Panico. m Sydney, “or transmission to Rome Arehbishon O'Shea said that no tiotilit Mtere >vere hundreds of pt'ople very anxious abon' tlieit loved ones "’ho were reported missing and it seemed •hat this <>pc*iK*d a wax for •learint’ itl> doubts ns to ’heir fate It mteht even load to a means'Doi nc found of sending messages to prisoners of war and re •elvim/ rpnlioc from them