The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-09-03
SEVEN YEARS OF BENEDICT
XIV

In the summer of 1914 the holy
Pontiff Plus X, bowed with grief
over the slaughter among the sons
of men, quietly passed hence into
a better world. His place was tax
en- by James Cardinal Della Chi
esa, archbishop of Bologna in
Italy, who assumed the name Of
Benedict, being the fifteenth of
that name in the Roman pontifi-
cate. On the third day Of Septem-
Der in that fateful year, 1914,
Benedict XIV was chosen as Su-
preme Pontiff, and three days
later he was crowned as successor
of the Fisherman.
Never perhaps did a Bishop OF
Rome ascend the papal throne in
a more discouraging era. Civiliza-
ton and progress had brought the
world to very high point in its
climb toward perfection. Sudden
ly all the forces of cruelty and
hatred and malicious rivalry were
let, loose on the peoples of earth.
The very inventions of science and
the ingenuity Of trained minds
were turned into means of further
destruction. One after another the
nations were drawn into the mael-
strom which threatened to engulf
the entire human race. The bru-
tality Of warfare among savages
was eclipsed by the refined instru-
ments of humiliation that sprang
forth from the inner recesses of
scientific minds. After seven long
years a great part of the world
still lies gasping from the wounds,
while starvation and the most in
tense suffering stalk among mil
lions of people,
The gentle Plus was shocked by
the prospects of what he knew was
to follow. The vision was too
much, and he succumbed. The no
less gentle Benedict took differ
ent view. He realized that now
more than ever it behooved the
Church of God to give proof of
her stability. Enemies had declar-
ed Christianity failure; the truth
was that the world failed when it
refused the principles of Christian
ity: as well say that the bridge
over a mighty stream is failure
after it has been dynamited by
enemies Of law and order.
During the terrific struggle, that
beheld the fall Of vast empires and
the elimination of mighty mon.
archs, Pope Benedict XIV ever held
out the olive branch of peace. He
planned and begged and implored
the leaders Of earth to desist be.
fore the fabric of civilization
should entirely crumble. Hatred
however, had entered the fray
and only with the complete sub
lection of either side was there
hope for a cessation of the strife
In the meantime Benedict XIV
omitted no effort to bring comfort
and relief to all those whom his
charity and his limited means
could reach. He made no distinc
ton Of race or creed, of friend OF
foe: all were his children, or a
least human beings, and upon al
without stint did he lavish hi.
charity. Hence when the fury 0:
war had abated the nations united
in thanking him for his disinter
ested work. Moslems and Jews il
Constantinople erected statue t.
his honor; Germany was grateful
for his efforts in repatriating pris
oners Of war; the starving ant
suffering of all nations liftet
grateful hands and throbbins
hearts for his munifcence; Franc,
felt spurred to restore the friendl,
relations broken off fifteen year
before; Italy knew the sting o
shame for her past robbery of TIL
] papal states; America sent hin
i immense aims for his favored