Without Prejudice

Wanganui Chronicle, 14 April 1949, Page 8

Without Prejudice

Sir,-Isn’t your correspondent "Let Facts Out” taking rather a lot for granted when he says that “any soldier in Italy will tell lhat the Vatican lives in the most pompous and extravagant splendour, etc.” I presume by this he means the Pope. While I was in Rome I was shown a photo of the Pope’s bedroom. It consisted of an iron bedstead, a pri'e-dieu in front of a large crucifix, a chair and a table. I don’t think there was even a mat by the bed. So, as far as hi.s own personal apartments are concerned I think we can take it that the Pope does not wallow i'i luxury. I did see some processions there and it did my heart good to look on an occasional splash of colour after the grim greyness of lighting days. I went through the corridors of the Vatican, which were lined with priceless paintings and statuary. They are there for anyone to see and enjoy. Does "L.F.0." object to that? Then he should, to be consistent, object to all art galleries. The Vatican library consists of rare books and irreplaceable manuscripts which are open to scholars and students. Did the Popes do wrong in cherishing and gathering this store of men’s wisdom for successive generations to study? It has always seemed to be so strange that although the Pope and Vatican come in lor such a terrible amount of abuse, i have yet to see a letter written by t Catholic condemning the luxuries cl Buckingham Pal-