The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-12-07

port he offorded us through his apos-
tolic nuncio in Brussels, etc.
The Pope's humane efforts during
the war are known and praised by the
whole world. In response to his pro-
posal of December 21, 1914, accepted
by all the belligerent powers, prison
ers unfit for military service have, been
exchanged and sent to their respective
countries. As a result of his negotia-
tions in May, 1915, thousands of in
valid and wounded prisoners have been
interned and tended in Switzerland.
He sent the prisoners provisions and
presents and obtained for them abso-
lutte freedom from Sunday labor. He
was also successful in securing ac-
ceptance of a plan for interning in
neutral country, after eighteen months
Of captivity, the fathers of at least
three children. He established at the
Vatican central bureau of informa-
tion for the purpose of locating miss
ing soldiers. The efficiency of this
bureau is known to thousands of Eu-
ropean homes to which he has brought
joy and gladness. Regarding the
Pope's effort on behalf of invalided
prisoners, Sir Henry Howard, repre-
senting the British government, has
this to say in a letter of thanks to the
Vatican written on August II, 1915:
"The German government having
made known that it accepts the pro-
posal for the reciprocal removal to
Switzerland of invalided prisoners of
war, English and German, his Britain
mic Majestys government hastens to
express to the Holy See it's warmest
gratitude for having made this pro-
posal. 1t was inspired by those great
humanitarian sentiments of which His
Holiness has given such frequent
proofs during the course of the war,
and His Majesty's government is con-
vinced that the action SO happily ini-
fruitful of benefit to many British
prisoners of war;
Another effort was made by tfe
Pope on July %, 1916, the first an
vi I11C OuIbI Cdh VI I1lC w dl
to put an end to the awful conflict.
Using all the moral influence of his
great office, with the heart of father,
he appeals to the heads of the bel
ligerent powers to consider better
their tremendous responsibilities and
be content with all the blood that has
been shed, all the devastation that has
been wrought in the most flourishing
districts of Europe. He declare$ the
only rule of peace and prosperity
among nations to be mutual benevo-
lence, respect for the dignity of others,
the right and just aspirations of the
peoples. A more eloquent and digni-
fed statement can not be found in all
the literature of the war But the ma
tions were not yet ripe for the peace
he offered them.
He protested to Austria against
aerial bombardment of open Italian
cities. He charged the Cardinal Arch
bishop of Cologne to convey his pro-
test to the German Emperor against
the bombardment of the Cathedral of
IknS1l1Ds dIlu uS Gu IllS
to be one of the weapons of offense
which are employed contrary to the
dictates of humanity and international
law"
His Holiness also protested to Rus
sia against the violence to persons
and to conscience displayed during
the early occupation of East Prussia
and Galicia, and against the harsh
treatment of Monsignor Sceptycki, the
venerable Archbishop of Lemberg.
In his consistorial allocution of De-
cember 6, 1916, he protested against
the coldblooded and repeated mas
sacres that had brought the Armenian
people to the verge of destruction
When in November, 1917, the Italian
army suffered it's severest defeat of
the war, enemies of the Pope at
tempted to place some of the blame
upon the broken morale of the soldiers
upon the Italian clergy. To their
spokesman in the Italian parliament,
the prime minister of Italy made the
following spirited reply: Il deplore
the accusations of a general character
made by the Hon. Signor Pirolini
against high ecclesiastical personages
accusations that tend to hurt the
supreme spiritual authority-ag against
priests and against the Catholic laity.
Such accusations are unjust and often
siye because, as the public are aware,
the Italian clergy, both high and low,
have given noble and beautiful proofs
of Italian sentiments and the great
mass of the Catholics have known how
to reconcile the dictates of faith with
their duties towards their country"
Finally, in August, 1917, having
sounded the various belligerents, the
Pope proposed a series of specific
peace suggestions, the first of the kind
that had been offered to the warning
nations. The president of the United
States, the spokesman of the allied
powers, considered the time inoppor
tune to attempt to make peace with
Germany on any terms, but he did the
Pope the honor of embodying his sug
gestions in the famous fourteen propo
sitions of January s, 1918.
The Pope may. by the secret treaty
of Italy, Russia, France and England
be denied a place at the peace table
h11t ha has thn consolation of Ixnow