The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-12-05

personality of the new pontiff and his
influence for peace.
The Herald says:
"The eyes of the whole universe are
'centered upon the Vatican. No other
one event could have invited attention
from the European conflict as this,
the election of temporal head Of the |
oldest and most far-reaching Christian |
communion on earth.
"It is long way from Peter of Beth
saida, in Galilee, to Benedict of Bo-
dogma, Italy. There were 25S Popes
between. Most of them have stood
out for some one great quality. In
our own day there were Plus TX, the
scholar; Leo KILL, the statesman, and
Piux x, the saint.
"For what pre-eminent characteris-
tic will Benedict XIV. live? This is
the question which the world is ask
ing. He has begun his pontiticate un-
der more difficult circumstances than
did any of his predecessors, be they
saints or martyrs.
"Leo XIII. left to Plus x an inheri-
tance of peace between nations. Plus
K, the "Pope of Peace" left to Bene-
dict XIV. an Inheritance of war. The
peasant Pope. who loved peace more
than all else except God, through no
fault of his own bequeathed to Car
dinal Giacomo della Chiesa, Arch
bishop of Bologna, the legacy of the
most terrific war in the worlds his
tory.
''What part will Benedict XIV. play
in this tragic conflict? 1t is absolute
ly safe to predict that he will play
some part, and that likely an exceed
ingly important part. Will he not go
down on the pages of time as the
Pope of War?
"The Christian world thinks he will.
And the Christian world, in all its
branches, whether it so confesses or
not, looking toward the dome of St
Peters for the initiative which will
turn the swords into ploughshares and
permit the Prince of Peace once again
to sway the hearts of the nations. The
new Pontiff gave excellent reason for
this prophecy in that the dominant
note in his first public allocution was
call to the faithful to pray fervently
for the cessation of this awful war
fare.
"The history of the civilized world
is largely the history of the Popes.
Down through the ages the head Of
the Papacy has been king of kings
and ruler of rulers. 1t is only in mod
ern times that this has been other
wise. There is feeling that because
of the fact that the Pope has three
hundred millions of souls under his
spiritual sway and because the occu-
pant of the Papal throne is mightier
than any king, he may be able to be
the arbitrator or mediator or peace.
maker between the warning nations.
"Such was Leo XIII. when Germany
and Spain were in dispute over the
Caroline Islands. Germany asked that
the good offices of Leo be invoked to
arbitrate the issue. To this Spain
agreed. The Pontiff, after a most
careful consideration of the whole
matter, decided in favor of Spain. And
Germany bowed to the decision. Dur.
ing the pontificate of Plus x. the Holy
See on several occasions, especially
in South America, did much to pro-
mote peace and concord among ma
tions.
''Pius X. wanted to bring peace
But he could not and the realization Of
that fact caused his death. He cried
out for peace, he prayed for peace, he
directed his entire army of 300,000,00C
praying souls to petition for peace
But there was war and when he knew
there was war his great, tender, peace
loving heart broke.
"There is century-old saying, The
Papacy is peace The Pope has beer
the peacemaker in Europe for the last
fifteen hundred years. Now that two
of the Powers in Europe are at the
throat of almost every other Power
who has better right to offer to me
diate than the successor once removed
of Leo XIII. the first statesman ir
Europe'-namely, Benedict XIV?
"His predecessors for the last cen
tury strove for peace within the
Church, especially in France, Spain
Portugal and Italy. It is most proba
BILE that Benedict XIV. will strive fol
peace in the nations.
"Not only is Benedict XIV. the right
age to be the Pope of the War, but the
very manner in which he was elected
would seem to fit him for this role
He is the first man ever to become
Pope without any influence from {
temporal power. He was chosen by {
conclave Of Cardinals which LASTED
three and one-half days, inauguratet
by prayer and in which each Cardina