Irish Tribute to Late Pope

New Zealand Tablet, 30 March 1922, Page 27

Irish Tribute to Late Pope

“Amongst the nations,” says the Irish Catholic, “none has reason to grieve more deeply for the death of our Holy Father Benedict XV than has Ireland. He occupied the Papal Throne during the most critical period of her national fortunes, and throughout all the vicissitudes of her struggle he remained, despite powerful adverse influences, firmly Ireland’s friend—-on the one hand, upholding, as became his office, the moral law, and, on the other, ever manifesting his sympathy with Ireland’s just claims and for those who suffered through effort to vindicate those claims. It is but just for Irishmen now to recall to memory the eloquent words spoken by Benedict XV on the occasion of the beatification of Blessed Oliver Plunket, the Martyr Archbishop of Armagh—in them our late Holy Father gave voice to the love for Ireland that filled his heart, to his admiration for the unshakable and heroic constancy of her clergy and people to the Faith; to remember his royally munificent subscription to the White Cross Fund, and the Apostolic Letter to Cardinal Logue which accompanied it; and the joy to which he gave such fervent utterance when he learned that at last there had come the possibility of peace between Ireland and England, through the recognition by her ancient foe and persecutor of the justice of our country’s demands. Amongst the prayers that have ascended and are ascending to the Throne of God for the soul of the great Pontiff none can be more heartfelt, more love-inspired, than those of Ireland’s children at home and throughout the world. ‘ Eternal rest \grant to him, 0 Lord!’ is their prayer; 'and may perpetual light shine upon him.’ Amen!”