BISHOP WHYTE RETURNS

Evening Star, Issue 21908, 20 December 1934, Page 14

BISHOP WHYTE RETURNS

AUDIENCES WITH THE PDPE SPLENDID SUCCESS OF MELBOURNE CONGRESS [Special to the ‘ Stab.’] i WELLINGTON, December 19. The Rt. Rev. Dr Whyte, Roman Catholic Bishop of Dunedin, relumed to New Zealand yesterday after . a lengthy trip abroad which included his ad limina visit to Pope Pins XL, and participation in the Eucharistic Congress in Melbourne. Dr Whyte, speaking first of his general impressions of affairs as he approached New Zealand after his. long absence, remarked that it was a pleasure to find the general feeling that things were recovering. This was noticeable in regard to overseas travelling, for ho found that the liner Oronsay, on which he travelled Home, and the Drama, on which he returned to Australia, were full ships, indicative of a better and more courageous outlook on the part of a large number of people. It was the same thing in crossing the Tasman on the Wanganella, which carried a large number of passengers. The chief objective of Dr Whyte’s travels was to make his visit to the Pope in accordance with the regular custom of Roman Catholic bishops. Spending three weeks in Rome, Dr Whyte noticed many changes due to Mussolini’s control, and found that everyone spoke well of him. It a matter of comment among visitors that the military atmosphere was very marked in Italy, even schoolchildren being trained in marching. In his audiences with Pope Pius, the New Zealand bishop found His Holiness well informed regarding affairs in Australia and New Zealand, and it was an interesting commentary on this aspect, he said, that the Pope had donated £I,OOO to the Victorian flood relief fund. “ There have been rumours that His Holiness Pope Pius was in poor health,” continued Dr Whyte, “ hut, seeing him after eleven years’ absence, I thought he looked stronger and better than when I saw him _ before. I was present when His Holiness took part in the very difficult and prolonged ceremony of the canonisation of a saint, this‘lasting for several hours, and even at the end he seemed fresh and vigorons. His Holiness, in the audience, inquired regarding conditions in New Zealand and development of the Faith in the dominion.” ' • Another interesting feature of tho tour was Dr Whytek visit to Oherammergau, where he witnessed the presentation of the famous Passion Play, and found that Anton Lang, who for many years represented the Christus, still participates in the portrayal, for he not only recites the prologue in most reverent and dignified manner, but is frequently on the stage rendering recitatives with chorus. The next outstanding feature of Dr Whyte’s tour was the National Encharistio Congress at Melbourne, which he regarded as a phenomenal success. It was distinctive as a national, as compared with an international, congress m the special feature tht the Pope appointed as Legate, Cardinal Macßory, whom the New Zealand visitor describes as a very amiable and most approachable dignitary. He was not certain regarding the possibility of Cardinal MacRory being able to visit New Zealand on his return from Australia, this depending on whether His Eminence took the Panama route.

“ Another important visitor,” continued Dr Whyte, " was Archbishop Downey, of Liverpool, who delivered a most striking address on international peace. He discussed the whole question very learnedly, and with a great deal of humour. He has a magnificent voice, and made bis ■.points most tellingly. His main thesis was that people have to be educated on the subject of the iniquity of war, and that it might be a long process; for he reminded his audience of the j many < generations of education of public opinion before there was a full realisation of the iniquity of slavery.” Of other great figures at the Congress Dr Whyte spoke of Father Martindale, who had attended the International Congress at Buenos Aires. He was a prolific, interesting writer, and in his book, ‘The Risen Sun,’ dealing with the Sydney Eucharistic Congress, and another book, ‘ The African Angelas,’ had made use of his New Zealand impressions to point comparisons between the various countries. “ From the viewpoint of numbers alone, the Melbourne Congress was a wonderful success,” concluded Dr Whyte, “ and congratulations have been pouring in on Dr Mannix from all quarters. The reverent and sympathetic attitude of the people who watched the processions gave great pleasure to those participating, for the great majority of those who watched were not of the Catholic faith. It was the same in Sydney, where a beautiful spirit was shown by the people. The spiritual results of the Congress were marked, and one striking example was to be found in the celebrations of Pontifical High Mass by the bishops in various churches at midnight on December 8. Though the hour was midnight there were vast numbers of communicants, and I speak personally of one celebration where the communicants numbered 1,264.” Dr Whyte left Wellington for the south to-night, and reaches Dunedin on Friday evening.