THE POPE'S MESSAGE

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 21 December 1926, Page 7

THE POPE'S MESSAGE

MEXICAN PERSECUTION OF CATHOLICS. DENOUNCED BY HIS HOMiNESSx(Per Press Association' —Copyright. ROM®, Dee. 20. The Pope held ® secret oonsiaoory. Addressing the Cardinals, he strongly denounced the' Mexican: persecution of Catholics; which ho characfc-rwed as inlittmaui ferocity,, which recent mews showed- to be even more cruel than was supposed. Bishops had been torn from their sees, and priests and people imprisoned and slaughtered even while they were praying, and private' schools had been perseeirted. He warned the French Catholics that they must not co-operate in the programme of putting politics before' religion or accept the leadership of newspaper men whose writings were condemned by the Catholic dogma on morality. Referring to Mussolini’s escape, he said that it was due almost to the visible intervention of Providence. He deplored that Catholic persons attacked buildings and organisations and devastated them at a moment when he himself, the bishops and the faithful were united in thanksgiving for Mussolini’s escape. He rejoiced that the Government had punished the perpetrators.