CHURCH AND STATE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 161, 8 June 1929, Page 9

CHURCH AND STATE

GATES OF VATICAN. PALACE OPENED. SIGNAL OF PEACE. PICTURESQUE CEREMONY AT ROME. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) Received June 8, 11.5 a.m. ROME, June 7. There was a picturesque ceremony in the capital this morning in connection with the Lateran Treaty. Signor Mussolini was the first Premier of United Italy ever to set foot in the Vatican when he entered Cardinal Gasparri’s palace to deposit the State’s ratification.

Directly the ceremony was over the Pope’s Swiss Guards mounted sentry at the Vatican City approaches as a sign of Sovereignty. Simultaneously, the bronze gates of the palace were thrown open as a signal of peace between the Church and the State.

COMMENT ON POPE’S LETTER. “MUSSOLINI MUST NOT BE CRITICISED.” (Times Cables.) LONDON, June 7. The Times’s correspondent at Rome states: “Thus far tire Tevere and Impero are the only Fascist newspapers to comment upon the letter written by the Pope and sent to Cardinal Gasparri, censuring Signor Mussolini, the Premier—His Holiness characterised Signor Mussolini’s speeches as a painful setback to the rejoicing throughout Italy and the world following the signing of the Lateran Treaty. Only the Roman Catholic organs published the letter fully, tho others giving inadequate and partial summaries. “The Tevore ignores most of the Pope’s points and describes the letter as merely a ‘solemn, foreseen affirmation of the Church’s viewpoint.’ The paper concedes that the letter is completely consistent with Roman Catholic dogma. “The Impero, on the other hand, violently attacks the Pope for daring to censure the Duce. ‘We have never offended the Church and tho Church must not offend Fascism. Fascism is not to be criticised, save by Fascists, and the Duce by no one,’ the paper points out. • “It is evident from the Pope’s letter that future going will be full of difficulties for Italian Roman Catholics, who also are convinced that the Fascists are already beginning to realise that the inner conflict their civil and religious loyalties is still far from being solved.”

The Pope’s letter stated, inter alia: “Signor Mussolini’s statement that the Church is subject to the Italian State is tantamount to saying that tho Supreme Pontiff is subject to Italy. Signor Mussolini’s frequent declarations that the State has perserved all means of vigilance over the Church clearly suggests that the clergyare suspicious characters and that the Church has attempted usurpation and spoliation of the State.”