Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-01-22
POPE BENEDICT
UNABLE TO FIND
SIGNS OF PEACE
Speaks of the War at Vatican
consistory-Refers to In
yading Armies.
BELGIAN SITUATION
MATTER OF ANXIETY
Urges Brotherhood Among the
Nations, but Is Fearful of
Greater Warfare.

ROME, Jan. 22.-The pope today
held a private and public consistory
in the course Of which he delivered
an allocution dealing chiefly with the
war.
The pontifr emphasized the neu-
traity of the Holy See and referred
TO his efforts to mitigate the disas-
trous consequences of the conflict.
He urged his hearers not to heed
those conditions which separated the
faithful, but rather to consider those
which made them brothers in the
faith, and he called upon the invad-
ers OF territory Of the enemy not 70
commit excesses.
In conclusion the pope Invited all
the faithful to participate In a great
expiatory function in Europe to be
held February and outside Of Eu-
rope March 21. He said that on
February z he and the cardinals
would take part In a special service
at st. Peters.
The pope began his allocution by
expressing his deep chagrin that
month after month went by without
even the distant hope that this fatal
war soon would cease. He alluded
to what had been done toward the
exchange of prisoners, and explained
that the limitations of his apostolic
office did not permit him to go fur
ther AS interpreter of the eternal
law, the pontiff said, ne could de-
clare that nobody should be per-
mitted to inf1ict injustice. but he
could not go further In this conflict.
To do so would be neither convenient
nor useful The Hoy See must re-
main perfectly impartial.
The Roman pontiff. as the vicar of
Christ, who died for ALL must en-
brace all the combatants in his SEN
timents of charity. Being the father
of all Catholics. he has sons on both
sides in this conflict, for whose safety
he must be anxious. Consequently 1t
was impossible for him to look upon
all the special interests dividing the
peoples in this conflict, but rather the
common bonds. making them brothers
in the faith Ang other course not
only would not assist peace. but
would create aversions against relig-
ion and thus expose the Internal
tranquility and concord of the church
to the danger OF grave disturbance.
While not taking sides with either
antagonist, the pope continued, he
followed with deep anxiety the terri
Bile phases of the war. fearing that
during some of the engagements the
violence OF the attack exceeded all
bounds.
Belgium PreIsfe's Letter.
Concerning our beloved Belgian
people" the Pope continued, I'VE
showed our sympathy in our letter to
Cardinal Mercier. Here we make ap-
peal to the sentiment Of humanity of
those who cross the frontier OF hos
tile nations, conjuring them not TO
devastate the invaded regions more
than is absolutely necessary from the
STANDPOINT of military occupation,
and, above all, not TO wound without
actual necessity the feelings OF the
Inhabitants In their dearest possess
sions, their sacred temples, their min
listers of God, Their rights, their re-
ligion and their faith"
Referring to those whose country
has been occupied by an enemy, tha
Pope said he understood how bur-
aensome IL must be to remain sub
iect to the administration of strang-
ers, but that nevertheless the desire
10 regain independence must not lead
them to any infraction of the public
order. which might agsravate their
condition.
The Pope said ne ventured TO ex-
press the opinion that God allowed
people whose thoughts were entirely
engrossed with things of this world
TO punish each other with mutual
slaughter for the disdain and neglect
with (which they treated Him.
Continuing, the Pope alluded to the
recent earthquake in Italy, saving
that other events had occurred which
had obliged men TO humiliate them
selves before the powerful hand %
God. and he brought his allocution
TO a close by urging the faithful to
PRAYER.