The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-02-11
HIS HOLINESS POPE Plus XII.

Two hundred and sixty supreme
Pontiffs had followed the Christ
appointed Peter as heads of the
Church of God. In every con-
ceivable state Of human society
they have piioted the bark of
Peter through storm and calm.
Never for moment have they
wavered in steering direct
course towards the haven marked
out by the Divine founder OF
Christianity. Today we salute
the latest successor i'll the royal
line of Christ s noblemen. Achil-
les Cardinal Ratti, as Pope Plus
NJ, takes up the torch passed on
from the hand of Benedict XIV,
and the whole Church sings again,
Habemus Pontifcem, We have a
new Pontitf.
The curious like to read into a
name the complete outline Of fu-
ture policy. Thus it is said al
ready by secular experts that the
present Pope will undoubtedly
follow the lines laid down by Pope
Plus x. He may, it is true, and
again he may not. Nothing what
ever can be deduced from the
mere title which the new Pontiff
assumes. In fact. this name has
been born by men Of entirely diff
ferent stamp and temperament.
The First Plus died i'll the year
154. The next Pope to bear this
name was the famous Aeneas Syl-
vius who was elected in 1458. He
belonged to the renowned Picco-
lonlini family. Other distinguish
ed houses furnished the Popes of
this name, among them being
another Piccolomini, Plus III,
nephew of Plus II. Then came a
Medici, a Ghisleri, a Braschi, a
Chiaramonti, a Castiglione and a
Mastai-F erretti, the beloved Pho
Mono. Plus X sprang from the
peasantry. The sixth and seventh
Plus suffered from Napoleon s
outrages, while the ninth Plus
was victim of Italian perfidy,
and Plus X died brokenhearted at
the outbreak of the world war.
Each and every Pontiff who
bore the name of Plus was noted
for his indomitable courage and
unfinching fearlessness. This may
give some consolation to those who
Hove to dwell ON the so-called
prophecy of Malachy that this
reign will be. distinguished by a
Pope of intrepid faith. Of one
thing we are certain, the faith will
be secure under this as well as any
other Pope; intrepidity is a per.
sonal quality.
| Pope Plus XI faces a world less
| distraught than that which greet.
ed the last two Pontiffs. Mate
trial destruction has ceased for the
present nations are beginning to
right themselves after the whirl-
wind; the great powers have
drawn up agreements that prom.
Use cessation from universal strife
for years to come. All in all, the
outlook of the present pontificate
is most encouraging.
AT the same time evidence is
at hand everywhere that the
Church is exposed to the shafts
of atheism. Rationalism is rife
throughout the whole world. The
thought of the day is deeply stain
led and impregnated with pagan
tendencies, while even the chill
| dren Of the Church, like the Isra
elites Of old, are. turning longing
gaze towards worldly ideals. i
is useless to close one s eyes to the
truth; Catholics, in spite Of Their
earnestness in many ways, are
gradually inbibing false theorie.
| Of life, and, what is worse, are put
| ting these erroneous principles .o1
lconduct into effect in their daily
Hives.
This perhaps is the spirit thai
the present Pope will be forced
to combat. Happily he is a MAJ
of deep learning, familiar will
every twist in the distorted mint
of the day. He is fully able t,
cope with all the dangers tina
confront the Church from an,
source whatever. 1t is fervently
hoped, moreover, that he will fint
a way of settling the long-stand
ing Roman Question.
While we receive his Apostolic,
benediction we pray sincerely tina
God may bless and guide him il
the steps of his distinguished
predecessors.
RED HOT SERMON TOPICS