New-York tribune., 1920-12-12
Pope Provides
Funds for Two
More Charities
Pontiff Maintains Jerusalem
Soup Kitchen, Where
500 Are Fed Daily, and
Also Aids Vienna's Poor
Faces Political Problems
Resumption of Diplomatic
Relations With France Is
Question To Be Solved
From a specta, Correspondent


ROME, Dec. 2.-Although Pope Bene-
dict already is a great benefactor to
many charitable institutions for the
upkeep Of which he Is financially re-
sponsible, he recently has added to his
list two pressing charities, one of
which is 8 soup kitchen in Jerusalem
where 500 persons can be fed each day.
The entire upkeep of this charity will
be met out Of the Pope's private purse
The kitchen will be under the juris-
diction Of the Patriarch Monsignor
Barlassini, while the actual management
will be In the hands of the Circolo di
San Pietro, an organization similar to
the American Knights Of Columbus.
The second charity which the Holy
Father has undertaken is that of car
ing for the poor children of Vienna.
Austria always has been the devoted
child Of the Church, even in the times
Of tho Emperor.
The revolution has left it's mark
on the Catholic population which
listened to the propaganda of Social
ism. The Pope feels that in many
cases the poor people werc driven to
it By hunger and misery.
Two American Bureaus
Pope Benedict has followed with in
terest the work Of tho Catholic Bureau
an association Of American Catholics
which has undertaken to feed not only
the poor. but also the nuns in the con-
vents, who have suffered a great deal
since the armisticc. This bureau has
its headquarters in Vienna in the Uof-
burg Palace. In the same offices the
other American organization, Guard
ian Of the Children's Fund" has its
these two organizations worked in
unison with the English committee
"The Vienna Emergency Fund" until
the latter was quartered elsewhere
These two committees are daily dis
tributing food, clothing and medicine
But for this great work and that of
the Pope thousands would die of the
cold, as clothing is exorbitant in price
and hard to get.
Bishops Residence Searched
There was a rumor the other day
that the Bishop Of Lenz had boarded
food in the episcopal residence, and
the Socialists and Communists called
on the people to ransack the house
The Bishop heard of this and waited
until the turbulent crowd had reached
the door. He opened it and asked what
they wanted. They replied that they
wished to take the food he had
boarded.
With gesture he invited the people
to enter and take whatever food he
! had A thorough search was made OF
the houee from top to bottom. ever
/ the cellar being visited. On the tirs
few potatoes were boiling. When the
searchers returned to the street they
shouted: "This poor fellow is worse of
than we are" and turning TO the
Bishop they remarked: owe should adj
wise YOU to follow US In this ransack
ing expedition as you are really starry
ing yourself"
Although Lenz has been hotbed 0.
communism, the Pope has heard witt
pleasure of the reorganization of thu
| Catholics, who are striving to bring
about a normal state of living. From
May until August eight federations O
young men have been formed, while a!
over Austria meetings have been helt
against Bolshevism.
Pope Faces Political Problems
Besides these more material mat
ters the Pope has serious politica
questions which must be solved tn
/; principal Of which is the resuming o
diplomatic relations with the Frcncl
government
1t Is believed that the French Cham
ber Of Deputies soon will decid
whether diplomatic relations should b
permanently resumed on the old foot
ing French Catholics are contrary t
new concordat which would tie tn
Holy See, while deriving no benef
; from it, If France has an ambassado
, at the Vatican the Pope would be sat
!, ished, as for reasons connected wit
missionaries and orders in the Eas
. French protection would be preferabl
:, to Italian. Strangely enough. Nrance
considered the leading Catholic natio1
,, Although one hears a great deal abou
,, reconciliation between the Italian gov
ernment and the Vatican, in realit
the question is still in abcyance.