The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-04
ALL PRAY FOR PEACE,
IS APPEAL OF POPE
Benedict XN.. in First Official
Document, Promises to Work
to End War.
speo,al corre.pondence 10 rnr srx.

ROME, Sept. II.-Folowing Is the first
official document issued by Pope Benedic;
XIV. an appeal for peace addressed to all
the Catholics OF the world:
AS soon as we were raised TO IN"
chair of St Peter although fully aware
OF how unequal We we're for such an
office. stll we submitted to the will OF
divine Providence which had elevated the
humility of our person TO such an exalted
position. Even though lacking In merit.
we assumed the government OF the SUI
preme pontihcate with serene mind ana
faith because We placed our trust IN
divine bounty and never doubted that He
who imposed the heavy burden of this
dignity would have also granted us the
strength and aid to bear H.
But from this supreme eNaltation OF
the apostolic ministry casting around our
Chances over the flock of the Lord entrusted
to OUR care our heart Is filed with indie
scribable horror and bitterness In contem-
plating all this appalling spectacle OF the
war which Is devastating with fire and
sword such great part Of Europe. red
dened with Christian blood And as We take
the place of the good shepherd, Jesus christ
in the government OF the Church "" must
take up in our arms with paternal charity
all His sheep and lambs And following
the example of our Lord, we must he
ready as we are to sacrifice our life for
their safety. and therefore II is our hrm
will not to omit anything In our power
TO hasten the end of this calamity.
in the meantime, even before address
ing encycllcal letters TO all the episcopatc.
as is the custom OF tho Roman pontlns on
the beginning Of their apostolate we can
not but take up the last word uf our holy
and immortal predecessor Plus y. When
| already near deaths door the war nrst
| broke out he showed the apostolic solicit
tuae in his heart and his charity Tor
4 Iff
eyes and hands TO heaven ana never cease
! praying to Nne Almighty, We beseech and
| implore. like our predecessor all the chill
dren Of the Church, especially those VINO
are ministers OF the Lord, To continue
| insist and strive either In private with
| their humble prayers or IN puhuc win
solemn suppl!catons To imploro God, the
Lord and Arbiter OF everything, To stop
, this scourge OF His ire with which He is
Furnishing the sins OF nations, ard nave
mercy on US.
! May our wishes be favored and helped
10y the virgin mother OF God whos'
nativity. which on this same day VIZ
| celebrate, shone over the troubled worlc
as a dawn OF peace, as she had to give
birth TO Him In whom the Father wanted
10 reconcile all things unto Himself
having made peace through tho blood
of His cross. whether they be things II
earth or things in heaven CColoss
T. 20). ,-
1--WE implore with our who'e hear
and heseech those who rule the dest!nic'
OF people to set aside their quorrels fo'
the safety of humanity. Let them con
slider that the MORNINGS and mlsorle
that accompany this mortal lit' are al
ready great and that they should no
INCREASE nor prolong them, the ruins al
ready wrought and the human bloo'
shed are sufficient let them Therefore
hasten to harbor sentiments OF peace II
their hearts and stretch out their nand
in amlty. They will thus gain for them
salves and their people the recompenses q
; God and render themselves highly worth
NJ civilization, and TO us they Will ronde
, a grateful service, to us VINO owing u
this grave trouble our apostolic mln'str
, is no little hsmpored from We h"Hlnnin G
"Given from the Vatican, on the 81
! day OF September, the feast Of the NatV
, itv OF the Most Blessed Mary In the yea
,o1t BENEDICT XIV"