THE POPE AND THE PRISONERS OF WAR

New Zealand Tablet, 12 August 1915, Page 15

THE POPE AND THE PRISONERS OF WAR

HIS PASTORAL SOLICITUDE. (From' our Rome correspondent.) The Osservatore liomano writes as follows on the efforts of the Holy Father on behalf of the sick and wounded prisoners of war of all nations: 0 'We have seen reproduced in several journals news of another charitable project of the Holy Father, Benedict XV., in favor of prisoners of war, wounded or sick. The news, which we did not think we ought to be the first to publish, is now well known, and is substantially true. The Holy Father in his pastoral solicitude has been much preoccupied at the lot of the German prisoners of war, wounded or sick, living in France, and of the French, Belgian, and English in Germany, who, because of their number, could not have all those cares and attention which their condition*required. ' On account of this his Holiness applied to the Swiss Government, which had already conceived a similar idea, and whose sentiments of hospitality and noble engagement to diminish the horrors of the present conflict by interesting itself in receiving them on the territory of-the Confederation until their restoration to health, are well known. For the sick or wounded prisoners of other nationalities, that is for the Russians in Germany and in Austria, for the Germans and the Austrians in Russia, and for the Serbian prisoners in Austria, there are other negotiations in progress... a similar end in view. Meanwhile to render tlie negotiations more expeditious, .the Holy See sent to Switzerland Count Carlo Santucci, advocate, who had from the President of Helvetian Confederation the most favorable reception for the noble proposal of his Holiness, which, on* being submitted to the Federal Council, was forthwith approved of. ' . * ' In view then of the arrangements that have been made, the Federal Government has declared itself ready to give hospitality at one part of its territory to a considerable number of wounded or sick French, Belgian, and English prisoners, and at another part to an equally considerable nuumber of Austrian and German prisoners, who may be found in the same condition —a number which, as a beginning, can without difficulty. be extended, to 10,000 for each of the two parties. Each Government will reimburse Switzerland the expenses sustained in the maintenance of the prisoners, its respective subjects, and Switzerland will assume the charge of the prisoners confided to her, while on their side the several Governments will. guarantee, in case .of their escape, to restore as soon as possible to the Federal Government their subjects who might get away. Those who are cured will be restored to the nation which held them. as prisoners, and the healed as well as the dead will be successively replaced by others. 4 Sonic of the Powers interested have already responded and consented to the project. from others a reply is still awaited. Thus the Pope demonstrates once more that, being unable as he would wish to spare the people the terrible scourge of war, he does all that is possible on his side to diminish its consequences and to alleviate its sorrows.'