New-York tribune., 1918-02-21
Pope's Peace
Drive Upheld
By Gibbons
Cardinal Pictures Terrible
Ordeal of Bene-
dict XIV

Dlfhcultles which face Pope Benedict
XIV in his desire to assist in the estab-
hshment of just and enduring peace
between the Allies and the Central
Powers are set forth by Cardinal Glib
oons IN an article on "The War Policy
of the Pope" which appears in tho CT,
rent issue of America" published to-
day.
/. After reviewing the pronouncements
made by the Pope in the interest of
humanity since the German hordes
swarmed through Belgium in the sum
mer OF 1914, Cardinal Gibbons refers to
the Papal peace note of August /, 1915,
which he declares is "a monument to
the universal affection, the prudent
diplomacy and the strict impartialitv
of the Vicar of Christ"
THAT document has been misunder-
stood by some" continues Cardinal
1lDDons. by others it has been Will
lul!y mlslnterpreted. 1t was not meant
10 De tlnai award. 1t purported to be
put an EFFORT to bring the nations to-
ee1ner IN the persons Of their repre
sentatives and delegates for the mn
pose OF beginning discussion Of peace
IL was a diplomatic effort. It CON
Sained the broad outlines of a plant of
se..lement. Unless | am much mis-
Iahen, when the peace congress assem-
PIES 'he nnal verdict Of the nations will
pased on the general principles
pointed out by the Holy Father
Pope in Unique Position
That Pope Benedict occupies un;oua
position in regard to the na@ions q an.qae at
war is pointed out by Cardinal Glib
oons, who explains that the Pope is not
an ordinary neutral, but a co-sutferer
WIN all the nations in the conflict.
:, Except IN rare cases where it was
MS duty to act continues the Cardi-
nal, he was bound to look upon an
alike and, by counsel and warning. en-
oeaVor to bring the combatants to
mutual understanding, and in this he
mas not been entirely unsuccessful. 1t
must not be thought that his silence.
when he thought it necessary. came
from cowardice. worldly prudence or
political and selfish motives.
From the first letter which the Holv
I ather addressed to the world on Sep
tember 8, two days after he had been
crowned, in which he expressed his
horror at the awful catastrophe in
winch the war had plunged the nations.
down to his eloquent protest Of few
weeks since, in which he solemnly CON
demned the useless and cruel air raids
on the beautiful city of Padua as CON
Irary TO the law of nations, he has no.
been afraid to speak out in favor of
peace and against cruelty. Scarcely q
month of his Pontificate passed without
some word of warning from him, some
appeal Tor the prisoner, the war suf
1erer, some protest against the horrors
and lnJustices of the fratricidal strug
gle
ut has been said again and again
that Benedict XV has forgotten Bel
gum, that he did not speak up for her
IN n her hour of betrayal by the superior I
XIV came to the throne Belgium had al
ready beee invaded by the German
armies and considerable part of her
territory overrun. When the invasion
TOOK place the sanity Plus was already
in the shadow Of death"
Protested for Belgium
"On coming to the throne the new
rope dad not wait long to let the world
know OF his sentiments with regard to
the violation of Belgian territory. He
. poNN Ae III 81 " "ltl prudent clrcumSpec-
'ion' 1or not all the facts were in his
possession. But he soon learned the
truth and acted conformably to it
according to the letter written nv
the Papal Secretary of State, Cardinal
Gasparri, to NJ. Van der Heuvel Rel
s1an Minister to the Vatican, The yio-
lation of the neutrality of Belgium. car
RED out by Germany, on the admission
OF her own Chancellor. contrary to in
ternationai law. was one Of those in
justices which the Holy Father in mis-
Consistoral Allocution of January %
LlIohgiy reprobated.' And the Ham
burger Fremdenblatu' (Januarv 90
1910, in allusion TO this. connie; a;ns
that The one belligerent power arainst
which the Vatican has spoken is Ger
many 's'
:" r't'ng to M. Laudet, editor of the