POPE AND THE PRESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21803, 18 May 1934, Page 7

POPE AND THE PRESS

JOURNALISTS AT VATICAN PRIVATE AUDIENCE GIVEN REMARKABLE INNOVATION [I?EOM OTTTt OWN CORRESPONDENT] LONDON. April 13 The Pope, for the first time in tho history of the Holy See, this week received in private audience 73 foreign - " newspaper correspondents, representing 27 countries of every grade of faith, including Jewish, Hindu, Roman Catholic, and Protestant, and every shade of political opinion, from extreme right to extreme left. Dr. Hodel, of the Neue Zurchcr Zeitung, president of tho association, in an address previously submitted to His * Holiness, expressed tho desire of tho journalists to have closer relations between the press and the Holy See through lihe establishment of a Vati- !" can press bureau. These press represcn- ' tatives wore assembled in the Constitutional Hull. On arrival tho Popo expressed his desiro to meet every journal-., ist personally, and a tour of presentation was accordingly made, each correspondent kneeling in accordance with tho " accepted etiquette of Vatican cero-' ' monial. From the Pontifical Throne tho. Popo then addressed tho assembly. Hi: characterised Dr. Hodel's address as "happy and consoling," offered his welcome to everyone, irrespective of creed,-, and thanked the journalists for their"' presence there. Ho extolled the mission "* of a well-informed and honest press, expressed his desire to assist journalists who were the "loud-speakers who broadcast all that interests human society." In . giving the Pontifical benediction to the journalists, their newspapers and their countries, the Pope said: "If all of you are not able to accept my blessing in tho liturgical meaning of the word, you can nevertheless accept it in its etymological sense of good wishes for all." This audience is described by tho Morning. Post representative as representing the inauguration of a new relationship bet ween the Holy See and tho world's preset which may, without cx- . agger at ion, be called revolutionary irt ■ the anna,ls of R-ome.