The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1919-01-18
MEMORABLE MEETING OF PRESIDENT
AND POPE,

President Wilson was received most cordially at
the Vatican by Pope Benedict XIV as might ma
turally be expected when one considers the char
acters of these two eminent personages. Both are
intellectual giants, profound scholars, and alert
students of current history. The announcements
that had been issued by the Holy Father during the
progress of the world war, even prior to the Amer-
entry, had served to lay the foundation of a
sympathy of common detectives between them The
restrictions and conditions surrounding the Pope
such that he could not possibly move with the
freedom and boldness of the President whatever his
personal convictions inclinations might be.
Nevertheless, he laid down the broad principles of
morality and justice which he believed must serve
as the basis of permanent peace among the nations
of the world and these amplifed and eluc-
dated in the fourteen points" of the President.
In spite of the fact that both America and Italy
were involved in the world the President and
including the vanguished as we'll as the victorious
nations will acclaim as the ideal arbiters of the
future of the world. Both are primarily concerned
not with military diplomatic political victories
but with that infinitely more important question,
the permanent peace of the world Of no other
parties powers in the issues at stake can this be
said with the same degree of truth and fact. In
the subsidiary questions that have arisen and will
continue to arise out of the Peace Conference both
of these leaders fairly claim to be disinterested
except in far justice and righteousness of
dealing concerned. Their common principal OBJ
jective may be stated as being such an equitable
adjustment of international relationships as will
make effectively for the prevention of future
The Pope greeted the President as the greatest
agency in the world for the practical execution of
those ideals which he has long cherished in his
heart during the anguish of the period of the war;
while the President recognized in the Whitehead
vicar of Christ the personication of the principles
of the Prince of Peace, whose good Offices he was
assured of in the great objective of his mission to
Europe 1t memorable and historical scene,
the meeting of the head of the greatest republic in
the world and the head of the greatest and oldest
of the Christian churches. Never before had an
American President, while in office, visited the vat
lean. The occasion is fraught with great signif-
canoe both to the civil and religious world. 1t
phasizes the passing away of old time prejudices
and rigorous formalities. 1t was truly democratic
greeting and conference between the two most
influential and trusted leaders of the world, and
the world will be gratiied and benefited by
it. President Wilson may count upon the powerful
cooperation and sympathy of the Pope in the great
task he has set for himself, while Pope Benedict
may rejoice that in the President may be found the
potent instrumentality which will translate into
realities the lofty ideals which he has cherished for
the betterment of all mankind