THE POPE AND PEACE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1065, 11 July 1917, Page 5

THE POPE AND PEACE.

. A PONTIFICAL PRONOUNCEMENT. Addressing Ihe Catholic Federation last evening, Bishop Brodie referred to the activities of Ihe Pope in re- ■ gard lo improving the conditions and treatment of the wounded prisoners ' of war, and I'ov the promotion of i | peace. ;i His Lordship said he felt he might safely speak of peace and quote the - words prompted by Ihe anguished hear! of the Holy Father:—"ln lite : anguish of our heart we endeavoured . by our exhortations to induce the ■ contending nations to lay down their • arms and seek a settlement of their , grievances by the means appropriate , io human dignity mediated by a ■ friendly understanding. Casting our- . selves, as it were, in the midst of the belligerent populations, as the faiher • in the midsl of his own contending , children, we have besought them in ■ the name of that Cod Who is infinite • juslice and charity to renounce Iheir determination to destroy one an- ' other, and declare once and for all the desires by which they are actuated, and to take into account, as far as II is just and possible, the aspirations of ihe various populations, prepared to accept when it-is found necessary, out of regard for equity | and the common welfare of the great comity of the nations, the obligatory and necessary sacrifices of self-love and of private interests. For this was and is the sole way to compose the monstrous conflict in accordance with the rules of justice and to arrive' at a peace not profitable to one of the parlies only, but to all. and hence both just and durable. "We know, too, that if our repealed call for peace has not produced the desired effect, it has none the less awakened a deep echo and has fallen like balm into the hearts of the people who are at war as well as those throughout the world and has stirred up a lively and acute desire to see the bloodstained conflict terminated as quickly as possible. Accordingly it is impossible for us not to lift up our voice once again in protest against this war which we cannot but regard as the suicide of civilised Europe nor can we refrain from suggesting and pointing out, whenever the circumstances arc propitious, such means as are calculated to end the accomplishment of the end for which we all long." Commenting on this, Bishop Brodie said that no wonder Mr Lloyd George could say that the man who would prolong this war one hour would incur a guilt from which the oceans of the world could never cleanse his soul. Thus could Roman Catholics, fully conscious of their duty to the Empire, and having given ample proof of readiness to discharge those duties loyally, respond to the invitation of the Holy Father and implore God to grant eternal rest to their soldiers who had died in the war, infuse comfort and consolation in the (hearts of those in sorrow, and speedily terminate this sad war by a lasting and honourable peace.