RISING IN IRELAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21509, 5 June 1933, Page 10

RISING IN IRELAND

THE TROUBLE OF 1016 LATE POPE'S ATTITUDE LONDON, May 27 How the late Pope Benedict gave a blessing to those involved in the 1916 rising in Ireland before it broke out is revealed to-day, says the Dublin correspondent of the Times, Count George Plunkett, whoso son was executed during the rebellion, writing in Mr. de Valera's newspaper, the Irish Press, says: "When the rising was arranged, the Irish Volunteers' executive, acting as the provisional Government of the Irish Republic, sent mo as an official envoy to the Vatican. Pope Benedict received me privately/ and for two hours discussed fully the coming struggle for independence. The Pope was much moved when I disclosed that the date of the rising had been fixed and the reasons for it. Finally, I •stated that the executive pledged tho Republic's fidelity to the Holy See and the interests of religion.

"Thereupon the Pope conferred the Apostolic benediction on the men facing death for Ireland's liberty." A Papal spokesman, questioned as to the authenticity of the statement by Count Plunkett, replied that the words attributed to the late Pope rested only on the authority of Count Plunkett. Tho late Pope could not speak from the grave and records weiv not kept of liis private conversations. In any case a fundamental tenet of the Roman Catholic Church, he said, was that Catholics must be loyal and faithful to any constituted Government.