For us in the western world you might say there were fewer losses in some ways than in the First World War. The greatest and hugest battles were fought in Russia and in Eastern Europe. It was also different for us because of the Japanese threat, which came to the very shores of Australia up in Indonesia and in New Guinea. It is interesting to recall now, thank God it is only a memory at least for the time being, that in 1950 after that terrible Second World War the Cold War struggle against the forces of Communism was just starting. We all know about Hitler and his destruction, but actually the communists, during this century which is ending, killed between 90 and 100 million people.
Few people know of that, at least amongst the youngsters.
The youngsters I speak to at primary school, they all know of Hitler, most of them have never heard of Stalin. Now this is the background for the Pope defining the teaching of the Assumption. It wasn't a new teaching as I mentioned, but let me give you a small incident from Pius XII, the Pope who defined it, his own story which might help you understand his enthusiasm for this feast. On one side there was the ruined church and a along line of burning railway carriages. On the other side there were the tottering walls and the smoking timber from the burning houses and people were vigorously digging through the rubble directed by the cries of those who had been buried alive.