POPES EASTER HOMILY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 71, 26 March 1940, Page 5

POPES EASTER HOMILY

CHRISTIAN VIRTUES NEVER MORE NEEDED VOICE OF BROTHERLY LOVE NO LONGER HEARD THE TORMENTS OF WAR ißy Te,egraph Press Association Copyright) Received March 25, 5.5 p.m. VATICAN CITY, March 24. The Pope in a Latin homily at the Easter Papal Mass, said: “If at present nearly all the peoples are either tormented by war or living in fear and suspense, nevertheless holy Easter recalls the Christian virtues of faith, hope and charity which to-day is so greatly needed. Christianity assures hope and peace to all who practice it. “You well know in what times we J are living. The concord between I peoples has failed miserably, treaties I solemnly stipulated have been changed ami violated, and no longer is the voice of brotherly love and friendship heard. Everything that genius has invented and study and experience produced all now go to make war or increase armaments. Everything that should be dedicated to prosperity or to the greater progress of the peoples is turned to massacre and the ruin of nations. Peaceful commerce is languishing and every class, especially the poorer, is suffering misery. What is worse still is that already many parts of the land .and | sea. even the skies, are stained with ; brotherly blood, cities, villages and | countries are terror;-■•1, afired and • devastated by bomb \ aent, and ini nocent citizens, old, yotftig and sick, | are deprived of their roofs and often killed. Whence can come hope but ' from Christ? In the meantime we. [ who exercise universal paternity pray | that the Redeemer shall grant con- ' cord and unity io the kings and ■ princes of all Christian people.” • The Pope afterwards imparted I Apostolic blessings to a crowd kneet- [ ing in the square.