THE NEW POPE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 54, 6 March 1939, Page 6

THE NEW POPE

HTHAT an Italian Prelate has once again been elected to the Papal chair will cause no surprise, seeing that Italian Cardinals preponderate in the Electoral College. The College of Cardinals must at no time exceed 70 in number, but at the moment it comprises 6'2: of whom 26 are Italian, .6 French, 4 Spanish. 3 German, 3 American, 2 South American, and one each for Canada, Belgium, Ireland, England, Poland, Hungary, Austria, Syria and Czechoslovakia. The Cardinals are divided into two classes: those who direct. Catholic affairs as Metropolitans in their own country and those who are settled in Rome tn advise the Pope, or act. as his delegates in the Government of the Church. Of these the Secretary of State is all-important. Until the rise of Italian nationalism under Cavour, the Church was a sovereign State with the. Papal States in Italy under its direct control, and it was b«use of the existence of these Italian States that there arose a predominance of Cardinals in Italy itself. The continuance of such dominance, may he a weakness in the organisation of the Vatican but it is eased by the fact that the Italians have been able—like the Russians—to produce men of outstanding diplomatic attainments. '1 he high-grade. Italian has the subtlety of the Greek for his inhci.il ancc and the strength of the Roman for his stay. When he comes from the North of Italy he lias mountain blood added io the general current for the Lombards are the descendants of the Longobards (or longbcards) who marauded the plains from their mountain fastnesses. The Italian is like the Jew in that, for many generations he has been a race without Power. Metternich said of Italy that it was not .1 country, only a geographical expression, and he lias been compelled to use. his wits because he had not. the power to assert himself. Ho is. by long usage, able to grasp the point of view of those with whom lie negotiates and to this ability is added the tradition for courtesy. With .'i high tradition for the arts ami the sciences, Italy has been able to maintain an Intelligenzia of a high order and th'e Church has drawn liberally on it. for its leaders. The outstanding exception of recent years of a non-ltalian rising to high eminence at Rome was Cardinal Merry del Vai. Del Vai was born in London in 1865 where his lather was secretary to the Spanish Legation and the son received his education in England. He rose to eminence under Pope Leo XIII, was secretary to the College of Cardinals during the. election of Pius X under whom he became Cardinal and Secretary of State, and in December 1920 became carmarlengo of the Holy Roman Church. Three generations back, however, del Vai had English blood introduced into his ancestry. The Italians, however, never took kindly to del Vai, chiefly, perhaps, because they were jealous of him. He was succeeded by Ferrata, who, dying soon, was followed by Gasparri, under whom Pacelli, Papal Nuncio in Germany, acted pursuing a policy to bring about a more pacific state in Europe. Pacelli remained in Germany and witnessed the rise of Hitler and endeavoured to maintain good relations with the Hitler Government, but while Hitler offered the Vatican a Concordat he was at pains to dissolve the Centre (Catholic) Party which had voted for him receiving supreme power, by the simple process of arresting all its members. He thereupon dissolved the various German Catholic organisations and silenced the Catholic newspapers. On July 5, 1933, the Centre Patty broke up, and immediately afterwards the Nazi Government announced a Concordat with the Holy See which was signed. on July 20 and went into force three months later. The. foregoing recital of German history reveals that the new Pope is intimately acquainted with the point whereat the Roman Catholic Church is suffering its most cruel oppression to-day and it may be that because his hand is the most experienced in dealing with the Nazi Government that he has been chosen for the X icarate of Rome. His task will be difficult indeed, and he will need all the help KJo okiu-nl. affovci him.