POPE PIUS XI.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 12, 15 January 1932, Page 8

POPE PIUS XI.

HIS NOTABLE CHARACTER A NOBLE PACIFIST. In conversation with a high Papal dignitary who was attached to the Papal Court under the reign of four Popes, I have been table to obtain some sidelights upon the policy, character, and outlook of the present Pontiff (states the Rome correspondent of the London Observer). “Pius X 1.,” he began, “differs greatly from his two immediate predecessors, Benedict XV. and Pius X. But thought he came from a different social world and had not the early diplomatic training, his poli»cy in many ways shows affinity with that of the great Leo XIII.

“Like Leo, Pope Pius is anxious to relieve the hard lives of the working masses; he advocates he poor man’s rights; believes that the main function of the State is to serve the individual, and denies that the individual exists only for the benefit of the State. Their ideas upon the sanctity of the marriage tie and mixed ifiarriages coincide. Not later than December, in his Encyclical Letter on Christian Marriage, Pope Pius said every effort must be made to bring about those conditions upon which Leo insisted; that such economic and social methods must be employed as will enable every head of a family to earn the necessary wage for himself, wife, and •children. ” When Leo enunciated this social policy 40 years ago he was hailed by the poor all over the world as their friend. Pius’ recent encyclical brings his utterances into line with modern needs. Solitary Meals. “That reminds me of another point. Leo had many friends. He used to consult them. Pius consults nobody. When ho was first ordained Mgr. Calebiana, then Archbishop of Milan, as Pius was later, used to call him his old young man,’ because his judgment was so mature. Pius had no friends in the sense of Leo and Pius X., who shocked his court by demanding that an ecclesiastic should sit at table with him. After considerable protest he gave way to Vatican tradition, which says that the Pontiff must always have his meals alone. Pius XI. has never questioned it. He settles everything by himself, without taking anybody into his confidence. This is not the vase with his policy. In details connected with the town planning and building of the Vatican City State, which he began soon after the Lateran Treaty was signed, he has given orders without consulting architects. A Lombard by birth, he has appointed Lombard architects for the new buildings.” The Prelate added, smiling: “Perhaps that is why the Romans say the new buildings are not handsome. The Vatican and Russia. “Pius XI. is very conservative and deeply anti-Bolshevist. I believe this is largely due to his experiences when Nuncio Apostolic to Poland in 1919, during the Bolshevist invasion. Most of the foreign Diplomatic Corps left Warsaw hastily, but he stayed, working for peace and helping tho inhabitants of the devasted regions. “In 1921, Pope Benedict made, him Archbishop of Milan. Less than a month later, Pius sat in the Papal Chair. Coming to that supreme post with memories of Bolshevist horrors so fresh in his mind, he lost no time in laying a substantial foundation for winning Russia back to Chrstianity and to Rome. He has now built and started an institution which he hopes will be the greatest help. I mean tho new ‘Russicum,’ a Pontifical College for training priests and missionajjfs for Russia. He founded it in RonfTin 1929. “Everybody will realise that men who ro into Russia to preach and try to bring Orthodox Russia to the Church of Romo will go there with their lives in their hands. But tho Pope has had no difficulty in getting candidates for martyrdom. Many men, including Royalist Russians, are now being trained at the ‘Russicum,’ and will leave for hte land of the Soviets as soon as they are prepared. Prince Volkonsky, military attache at the Russian Embassy at Rome under tho Czars, is only one of tho band of devoted Russian nobles who are training there at present. Work for Pacifism. “Pius XI. is a great and noble pacifist. He hates war, and firmly believes the best way to ensure world peace is through Roman Catholiv organisations. He is opposed to excessive nationalism, and has not hesitated to say so in strong terms. You will hear people say that in signing the Lateran Pact with the Italian State he runs the risk of allowing the Church’s interests to become subservient. Nothing could be more erroneous. He is far less enthusiastic about Fascist doctrines than many of his cardinals and bishops.

“In one way the Pope’s policy differs widely from that of Leo XIII. He has not encouraged the movement led by Viscount Halifax for the return of the Anglican Church to Rome. The aged English nobleman was coldly received when he tried to obtain private audience with Pius XI. some time ago. Leo saw him on several occasions.”