Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-06
POPE BENEDICT
ONCE MORE RAISES
VOICE FOR PEACE
Pleads with Belligerents in Name
of the Prince of Peace to De.
sist in Their Act of Mutual
Destruction

Rome, Via Paris. March 4.-(De-
layed).-Pope Benedict has again
raised his voice for peace. In a spe-
ciai letter written for the Lenten sea-
son. the Pontiff says he cannot sit sill
ent, Indifferent to the terrible conflict
which is rending Europe. He recalls all
that he has done to induce the con-
tending nations to lay down their
arms. virtually throwing himself be-
tween the belligerents and conjuring
! them in the name of the Almighty to
desist from their plan of mutual de-
StruCtion.
The Pontiff again sets forth the pro-
posal which he made some months
ago: Each belligerent should state it's
desires, but should be ready to make
necessary sacrifices Of pride and par
ticular interests, thus ending the mon
strous conflict in accordance with jus
tee and establishing peace. adj
vantageous to neither side, but profit
able to all, and. therefore, a just and
lasting peace"
This paternal voice. continues the
Pope, was not heard Thus, the war
| continues with all it's horrors. l rejoice
that our cry for peace has had pro-
found echo in the hearts Of the bellig-
erent peoples. indeed. the peoples of
the whole world, and has aroused
deep desire to see the sanguinary con-
| flct soon cease.
Il must, therefore. once more raise
my voice against this war which ap-
pears as the suicide of civilized Eu-
rope"
The second part of the letter deals
with prayers. penance and aims in the
neutral countries, the aims to be de-
voted especially to the relief ''of the
pitiful children of those dead in Tho
horrible war;
Letter to Cardinal
On the occasion of Lent, the Sovereign
Pontiff has addressed to Cardinal Vicar
Pompili the following letter:
LAS the Universal Pastor of Souls We
could not, without failing in the duties
inherent in the sublime mission of peace
and love which God has entrusted us
WITH remain Indifferent to the direful
conflict which is rending Europe and re-
main silent.
| 1T is for this reason that at the be-
ginning of our pontificate in the anguish
which filled our heart in the presence of
such an awful spectacle. we tried on
several occasions throughout excavations
and counsels to persuade the belligerent
nations to lay down their arms and adj
! just their dissensons in away compat-
| ible with human dignity, by means Of an
amicable entente.
| I'VE threw ourselves, as it were. be-
tween the belligerent peoples as a father
between his sons in struggle. We con-
! jured them in the name of that God
whose justice and charity are infinite to
renounce their designs of mutual destruc-
ton to make known, once for all, with
clarity. in direct or indirect manner.
the desires of each of the parties. taking
| into consideration within the limits Of
! justice and possibility the aspirations Of
the peoples, accepting, if need be for the
sake of equity and the common good of
nations, the obligatory and necessary
sacrifices Of pride and particular inter
est.
| Such was and such remains the only
| way of settling the monstrous conflict
| according to the rules of justice and at
arriving at a peace which would be ad-
vantageous not only to one of the parties,
but all, and which would be just and
lasting.
! Our paternal voice, unhappily, has not
been needed up to the present and the
war continues furiously with all it's hor-
rors. Notwithstanding that we cannot
and must not keep silent 1t is not per-
mitted to the father, whose sons are en-
gagged in fierce battles among themselves,
! to cease warning them because they do
| not heed his exortations and tears.
"On the other hand. you know that our
, repeated appeal for peace did not obtain
the desired effect. 1t had. however. a pro-
the heart of the belligerent peoples and,
moreover, in that of the peoples Of the
| entire world, and awoke a lively and ar
dent desire to see the bloody conflict set
! tied as soon as possible.
1T is not possible for US, therefore, to
refrain from raising once again our voice
against this war, which appears to US as
! the suicide of civilized Europe. We must
not neglect to suggest and indicate when
| circumstances permit any words which
would be likely to contribute to attaining
this much desired goal.
"A favorite occasion is offered US
by some pious ladies who have mani
tested an intention to form among
themselves in view Of the approaching
holy 40 days, spiritual union Of
prayer and modification. in order to
obtain more easily from the infinite
mercy of God cessation of the fright
full calamity. We have often recon-
mended constant prayer and the
Christian penace as the only comfort
for our heart, as for every human
heart. in the distress engendered by
this horrible fratricidal war and as
very efficacious mems for imploring
from the Lord the peace to which we
aspire.
THE project which we have just ex-
pounded could not fail to be very
agreeable to US. That is why We
blessed it with all the outpouring Of
our paternal sentiments. We now COM
mend it publicly in our desire that all
the faithful adopt it in their turn.
1--WE. therefore. feel confident that
not only at Rome. but in all Italy. and
in the other belligerent countries.