VATICAN ACTIVITIES RETURN TO NORMAL

Grey River Argus, 28 February 1949, Page 7

VATICAN ACTIVITIES RETURN TO NORMAL

Survey of Past Year | From John Talbot, Reuters Correspondent at. Vatican City]

A substantial return to normal in spite of the uncertain international situation and an intensification of certain activities are the main feature of a review of the year 1948 recently carried out by competent Vatican authorities. During the past 12 months, more than 30 different countries have received help through the Vatican institutions which canalise and despatch aid to countries suffering from the aftermath of the war. In Italy, one of the countries which suffered most as a result of the war, this aid is distributed by the Fontificial Commission for assistance. In other countries of the world, it passes through Vatican Aid Commissions. Not so widely known is the work of the Curia Romana, through the various sacred congregations, in advancing the growth of the church in various parts of the world. This work, during 1948, included: The creation of four new dioceses and the nomination by the Consistorial Congregation of 65 resident and 43 titular archbishops and bishops, as well as various other acts concerning diocesan ruling. This congregation also supervises, by means of about 100 priests scattered throughout France, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Holland, Sweden, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Argentina, and Venezuela, assistance given to emigrating Italians. The congregation of the Oriental Church, while able to consolidate its work in various countries, has suffered, some heavy losses, especially in Palestine • through the fighting which has raged there between the Arabs and Jews. Great damage to the Catholic Church has also been sustained in Roumania through the action of the local Communist government. Special provisions have been taken to- help the Ruthenians, refugees from Galicia, where persecution has almost destroyed the Roman Catholic Church.

The Congregation for the Affairs of Religious has approved the establishment of nine new women’s religious orders and is at present studying more than 50 requests from secular institutes. The Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith has been able largely to normalise its relations with the major territories dependent upon it, although the political change which have taken place almost everywhere are influencing the general organisation of the missions. In spite of the somewhat unfavourable conditions which prevailed in India following the split of the country into two parts, good progress is apparently being made at present. The indigenous religious institutions are constantly growing while the Pontificial Missions are also prospering. In Burma, Indo-China. China and Korea, the missions are being developed as well and as speedily as possible under the prevailing conditions. AU the other congregations, tribunals and offices which go to make up the Curia Romanaf have, during the past year, seen their work gradually increase as communications have become more normal and travel between Rome and other countries of the. world becomes easier.

On the cultural side of the Vati-

can’s activities, it has to be recorded that the Vatican library is again open to the students who are now coming, as before, from all over the world. Photographic reproduction of all the most famous and most important manuscripts and documents in the library is now in full swing. All the works of art hidden during the war have now been brought back to the Vatican museums and galleries and all their rooms- have been open since December. The Commission for Sacred Art has begun work on the farreaching tasks of reconstructing the churches destroyed during the war. Finally, the special link between Rome and the rest of the world, the Vatican radio station, has, during the past year, returned to its normal peacetime basis and now broadcasts daily in many languages, the news and the thoughts of the Holy See. As a symbol of peace to all the ships of the world and as a sign of Germany’s reconciliation with God, plans are being made to erect a statue of Christ the King, some 150 feet hig'h, on the extreme point of the Island of Borkum. . Influential American personalities and various Catholic Associations in America, have launched a campaign to collect the necessary funds.