Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-01-21
Pope Benedict XV's Reign
Covered Troublous Period
(By Tho Associated PrssD

(By Tho A sso
Pope Benedict XIV. the 2b9th sue
cessor OF st. Peter nA supreme head
OF the Roman Catholic church, began
his pontif,cate on September 0. 1914 |
soon after Europe entered upon itS
four years OF war. Upon many occa-
sops during the war he endeavored to |
bring the bclligerent nations TO a
peace agreement and thus TO main
tain the title which had been affec- |
tionately bestowed upon him by a
high dignitary OF his communion ns
IA messenger God sent to bring
peace"
The war between Italy and Austria,
In both OF which peoples Of the Cath
olic religion predominate, was partic-
ularly q great sorrow to the Pope
Those near to him said he deprecated
the German violation OF Belgium.
When tho Lusitania was sunk he tele-
Rraphed TO the then Emperor William
his abhorrence OF a deed which had
shocked the world.
The successor of Plus X was said TO
have combined the sthtesmanship OF
Pope Leo XIII with the grace OF his
immediate predecessor. He endeavor-
ed. It is said, to carry out the Ideals
and policies OF those two great
churchmen. But the world war. which
broke the heart OF Plus X, saddened
the first four years Of his pontihcate
and prevented the fulnllment OF some
of his aspirations.
| Ono of the Incidents OF his pontifical
career was the visit which President
Wilson paid to him on January 4
1913, when the president went TO
Rome prior to the opening OF the
Peace Conference at Paris. Social and
treaty questions were discussed. Il is
said, during the private audience at
the conclusion OF which Pope Bene-
dict presented to his guest a, hand
some mosaic reproducing Guido Rents
famous picture OF Saint Peter, valued
at $4,000.
Wept When Selected Pope.
| One of the smallest men physically
ever elected TO the chair Of st. Peter,
the former Cardinal della Chiesa never
expected TO be thus honored by the
Sacred College and is said to have
wept when apprised of his election.
lie would have preferred, he said, 10
remain a simple priest or, at most.
Cardinal and Archbishop OF Bologna
/ On. the day of his election he spoke
of the burden OF responsibility thrust
upon "one frail brain" and expressed
his horror of the world conflict then
being waged and his hope that Il
would quickly end. One week after his
coronation. when the Fishermen's
Ring was placed upon his finger, he
issued an Encyclical TO the episcopacy
Of the world in which rulers were ex-
horted TO put aside dissensions and to
ENTER into n council OF peace with
all speed" The appeal fell on stony
ground, however, and later, or Decem-
ber -, 1914, the Vatican authorities
announced the Pope's plan for @
Christmas truce was failing because
OF the opposition Of a certain power. :
= Reports were that Russia and Turkey
= had refused to acquiesce. Along q
thousand miles OF battlefront. the fol
. lowing Christmes Day. thousands Of
cannon thundered An answer to Ben
edict's appeal to lay down your
arms"
Repeated PleaS For Peace.
Again on January 1S, 1915, Pop,
, Benedict took up the task Of bring
ing peace to a war-torn world, de
creeing that on February Z, priest
and laity OF the Catholic church
throughout the world should unit
in services and prayers for the restor
alton of universal amity and good will
The next occasion Benedict exercise
his humane prerogative was on Jul
2S, 1915, the first anniversary of tn
war, when he issued an appeal 10 a
rulers, declaring that blessed be h
i who first extends the olive branch an
tenders his hand 10 the enemy in OF
fering his reasonable conditions c
n peace"
I In March, 1916, the Pope agai
n reiterated his prayer for the dawn of
' new and better day. Each bellgerer
should clearly state his desires" h
said, but should be ready, TO max
, the necessary sacrifices of pride an
!, particular interests" Previously Ber
!, edict had written to the late Emperc
Francis Joseph of Austria asking hin
: to shorten the war" and likewis
. sounded the then Emperor OF Gel
many as to the terms upon which
- would lay down the gage of battl
In May, 1916. Monsignor Bonzan
papal delegate TO Washington, deliver
ed to President Wilson a messae
e. from the Pope in which he intimate
J. that America might volunteer to COZ
v ciliate the European belligerents. Tt
Y. | AT tir,na ,t-hA H.. TT,,g.
8 States and Germany were In the mid
is of diplomatic crisis and Mr.. Wilso
L In his reply. did not respond to II
ii pontiff's suggestions for bringir
about peace. The next compunicatiC
4 from the Vatican to the wife Hou,
H. came on January 16, 1917, and contain
L. ed the approval by Benedict of tt
,. Presidents peace note. Three montl
later the United States herself r
sorted TO the arbitramnt OF arms al
entered the struggle on the side of Il
ID Allies.
J. Strongest Appeal to End War.
- ON August s, 1917, still hopeful
saving the world from a veritah
cataclysm, Pope Benedict issued
his own handwriting his famous a
peal TO the nations, exhorting the be-
"a ligerent rulers TO end the war for Il
w sake Of humanity.
One passage read; "As to the dar
OF ages TO be repaired and as to the W
oi expenses, we see no other means
o. solving the question than by subm
". ting as a general principle compile
ss and reciprocal condonation, viii
a would be justified. moreover by t
b. immense benefit 20 be derived frC
on disarmament, so much so that no o
,e, will understand the continual tion of