POPE DENOUNCES HITLERISM

Waipa Post, Volume 48, Issue 3471, 26 May 1934, Page 8

POPE DENOUNCES HITLERISM

PAGAN TENDENCIES IN GERMANY.

UNCHRISTIAN PRIDE. The Pope recently uttered the first public criticisms he has made of the Hitler regime. They have made some impression. Addressing a group of cardinals and prelates assembled for reading the decree for the canonisation of the Blessed Conrad of Parszhan, a German, the Pope attached the present “pagan tendencies ” in Germany. He affirmed that Christian charity was making war against currents which were trying to lead everybody and everything back to pagan life,, as in antiquity, with all :its errors and all the horrors which were to be seen even to-day in places where missionaries had not entered with a Cross or from which they had been expelled. The Pope proceeded: “In the figure of the Blessed Conrad we see, not a pagan, but another Germ'any, a great and noble German people in this moment so tragically historical. We say ‘tragically historical’ be-

cauise the danger of great evil is • always terrible, especially for the souls of those in which the Divine Redeemer delights the most, the souls of youth. “At the moment there is an exaltation of thoughts, ideas, and practices which are neither Christian nor humane, an exaltation of pride of race which can only produce a pride of life contrary to the Christian spirit and even to the spirit of humanity. “At this moment Divine Providence, as if to shew a miracle, brings forward this figure of the Blessed ’Conrad, so truly and exquisitely Christian, in order to prove that the true roots and essentials of a Christian life are in the spirit of moderation and parsimony which keeps souls from sinking into materialism and gives to the spirit that liberty and agility so necessary to spiritual life.” Despite the Pope’s denunciation of Hitlerism, it is believed that the Vatican will not denounce the Concordat with Germany which was signed last summer. If any such step were taken it would be made by Germany.