The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-08-25
ADVOCATES DISARMAMENT ARBl.
TRATION OF ALL DISPUTES.
FREEDOM OF BELGIUM, RELIEF
FOR POLAND AND ARMENIA AND
THE RETURN OF HER COLONIES
TO GERMANY.

Following is the text of the Pope's
peace appeal to the heads of the
belllgcrent peoples which he has sent
TO King George of Great Britain with
the request that he forward it to the
nations to which it is addressed:
Text of the Appeal.
To the leaders of the belligerent
peoples
Since the beginning of our pontif.
1cate, the horrors of terrible war let
loose on Europe, we had in view above
everything three things to preserve
perfect impartiality toward all belli-
gerents as is suitable for Him Who is
the common Father and Who loves all
Lis children with equal affection; con-
unuaHy to attempt to do all the good
POSSIBLE, and that without exception
OF person, without distinction of ma
uonality or religion, as is dictated to
us by the universal law of charity
Whlch the supreme spiritual charge
has cont1ded to us with Christ; finally,
as our pacific mission also requires.
10 omit nothing as long as it was in
our power which might contribute to
nasten the end of this calamity by
trying to lead people and their leaders
to more moderate resolution to hasten
serene deliberation of peace Just
and durable
Whoever has followed our work
which have just passed has been able
easily to recognize that if we have al
ways remained faithful to our re.
solve of absolute impartiality and to
our attitude of benevolence, we have
not ceased to exhort the peoples and
the belligerent brothers again to be-
come brethren although publicity has
not been given to all that we have
done TO attain this very noble aim.
His First Appeal.
Toward the end of the first year of
the war we addressed to- the nations
in conflict most lively exhortations,
and more, we indicated the part to be
followed to arrive at a Stable and
honorable peace for ALL
Unfortunately our appeal was not
heard and the war continued desper-
ately for another two years with all it's
horrors. It became even more cruel
and extended over the earth, over the
sea and in the air, and one saw DESC
lation and death descend upon the
cities without defense, upon peaceful
hni inn 10
tion, and now no one can imagine how
tho sufferings of all would be increas-
ed and aggravated if other months or,
worse still, other years are about to
be added to this sanguinary triennium
Is this civilized world to be nothing
more than field of death? And Eu-
rope, so glorious and SO fiourishing,
is it going as if stricken by univer-
sal madness to run the abyss and to
lend its hand to its own suicide?
Pope's Disinterestedness.
In such a terrible situation and in
the presence of a menace so serious
we who have no particular political
aim, who do not listen to suggestions
VI W IhS VI duy VI tUG
belligerent parties, are solely compell-
ed by a sentiment of our supreme
duty as the common father of the
faithful, by the solicitation of our
children who implore our Intervention
and our pacifying word.
Through the voice even of human
ity and of reason we once more emit
the cry of peace and we renew a
pressing appeal to those who hold in
their hands the destinies of nations.
But in order no longer TO speak in
general terms, as the circumstances
had counselled us in the past, we now
wish to make more concrete and
practical proposals and to invite the
Governments of the belligerent peo-
pies to come to an agreement upon
the following points, which seem to
be basis of just and durable
peace, leaving to them the task of
,analyzing and completing them: