PETER'S PENCE FEWER

Franklin Times, Volume XXII, Issue 58, 20 May 1932, Page 2 (Supplement)

PETER'S PENCE FEWER

POPE'S CHARITABLE WORK IN DANGER.

Though the Pope's privy purse is administered with the strictest economy and the revenue from Peters Pence, the indemnity paid by the Italian Government and other sources is said to be very near £4,-000,000 a year, at gold rates, the world-wide depression is taxing it to the utmost.

Peter's Pence is not flowing in as_ it used to; and the crisis is making bigger calls than ever before upon Pope Pius XL's charity.

The missions which are at work in the uttermost parts of the earth are sending in appeals for help; even the savages are feeling the economic results of the world crisis, because their simple products cannot find markets. And not one appeal is made in vain. The Pope sends his millions to wardevastated Manchuria, to famine-rid-den landsi, and to the cold and hungry in all the populous centres of the world. Very often he has already earmarked- money before dividends come in. H© is having churches, schools, and mission houses re-built all over the world in order to give men work. But a serious, situation will have to be faced if the crisis drags on much longer.