The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1917-08-20
POPES APPEAL FOR PEACE
Text of Appeal of Pope Benedict to
Belligerent Nations Setting Forth
Plan for Peace

j Al VI <app~dI VI TOpe DeHeuicC 10
Belligerent Nations Setting Forth
Plan for Peace
Following is the French text of the
letter from Pope Benedict to the
belligerent nations issued by the
Foreign Office at London Thursday:
TO the leaders of the belligerent
peoples:
"Since the beginning of our pontif-
icate the horrors of a terrible war let
loose on Europe, we have in view
above everything else three things to
preserves: Perfect impartiality to-
wards all belligerents as is suitable
for Him who is the Common Father
and who loves all His children with
equal affection. Continually to at
tempt to do all the good possible and
that without exception of person,
without distinction of nationality or
religion as is dictated to US by the
universal law of Charity which the
supreme spiritual charge has confid-
ed to Us with Christ. Finally as our
pacific mission also requires to omit
nothing as long as it was in our pow
er which might contribute to hasten
the end of this calamity by trying
to lead people and their leaders to
more moderate resolution to hasten
q serene deliberation of a peace just
and durable.
Whoever has followed our work
during those three painful years
which have just passed has been able
easily to recognize that if we had
always remained faithful to our re-
solve Of absolute impartiality and to
our attitude of benevolents, 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.
Towards the end of the first year
of the war we addressed to the ma
tons in conflict most lovely exhorta-
tons, and more we indicated the part
to be followed to arrive at a stable
and honorable peace for all. Unfor--
tunatelv our appeal was not heard
and the war continued desperately
for another two years with all It's
horrors. 1t became even more cruel
and extended over the earth, over the
sea and in thN air, and one saw desc
laton ard death descend upon the
cities without defense, upon peaceful
villages and on their innocent popu-
laton and now one can imagine how
the sufferings of all would be IN
creased and aggravated if other
months or worse still, other years,
are about to be added to this san
culinary triennium.
as this civilized world to be moth
ing more than field Of death? And
Europe so glorious and so flourish
lng is it going as if stricken by
universal madness to run to the abyss
ari to land his hand to his own sui
eide?
an such terrible situation as Is
IN the presence Of menace so serious
we who have no particular political
am who do not listen to suggestions
or to the interests of any Of the bel
hgerent parties but are solely COM
PEELED by sentiment of our supreme
duty as the Common father of the
faithful by the solicitation of our chill
dren who implore our Intervention
and our pacifying work.
Through the voice even OF hu-
mainly and of reason, we once more
emit the cry of peace and we renew
a pressing appeal to those who hold
IN their hand the destinies Of nations.
But IN order no longer to speak IN
general terms as the circumstances
ard counselled US in the past, we now
wish to make a more concrete ana
practical proposal and to invite the
governments of the belligerents to
come to an agreement upon the fol-
lowing points which seem to be a
iIaals Of a just and durable peace,
leay.ng to them the task of analyzing
ana completing them.
IF lrst Of all the fundamental points
.1 be that the material force of
far Hs be substituted by the moral
. 'I.e OF right from which shall arise
%It lar agreement by all for the SIM
"''"neous and reciprocal diminution