VATICAN STATE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 10843, 12 March 1929, Page 5

VATICAN STATE

ABSOLUTELY EQUITABLE . AGREEMENT. RELIGIOUS LIFE OF ITALIAN PEOPLE. ROMAN C/ATHOLIC CHURCH PRU-EAI I.NENCE RECOGNISED. BUT OTHER DENOMINATIONS WILL NOT SUFFER. AIUSSOLINT DEFENDS CONCORDAT.

(Australian Press Assn.—United Service) i ßeceived Alarch 11 7.130 p.m.) LONDON, March 10.

In a speech to four thousand delegates at the Opera House in Home, Mussolini defended the concordat as only logical beneficial separation of the Church and State. Each now possessed its own rights, duties, powers and limits. It was puerile to talk of victors and vanquished. The agreement was absolutely equitable. Peace between the Quirinal and the Vatican was an event of supreme importance to the whole world. The kingdom of Italy, with Home for its capital, had been solemnly recognised. Similarly, the State recognised the sovereignty of the Holy See, - because the supreme head of universal religion could not be thosubject of any State. “We ■ conceded the Homan Catholic Church preeminence in the religious life of the Italian people, which is pre-emin-ently Homan Catholic,” he said, “but this does not mean that other denominations will be suppressed or even harassed.”

W(MILD-WIDE CONGRATULATIONS TO POPE.

A N UNPRECF. DENTED PLEBISCITE.

(Australian Press Assn. —United Service) VATICAN ClTY. '.March 8.

The. Pope, replying to diplomats assembled to congratulate him on the conclusion of the Italo-Vatica.u Treaty, recalled that he had received an avalanche of letters and telegrams from all parts of the world, including Australia, and New Zealand. indicating an unprecedented plebiscite, and proving that the whole world was with him in the acceptance of Italy's offer. This was the widest and most imposing gparantee that could be imagined.