Evening star., 1922-02-17
The Vatican and World Politics.

"Few questions before the world are
so important as the attitude OF the
new Pope toward modern political is
sues" declares the New York World.
| It is, therefore, natural that all his
acts should be scanned for light upon
the probable trend Of the papacy." In
deed, this probable trend" is a mat
ter Of keen interest in American pa
pers, for while. n the Newark News
says, 'tas an ecclesiastical event the
election Of q new Pope is wholly the
the supreme head" it 10 "a political
event also." and ':as such It is Of wider
concern"
At tho present critical juncture.
when European affairs are in such
confusion, 1t is especially important
that the new Pope shall be gifted as a
statesman no less than as the spir-
itual head Of the church." and the
Philadelphia Record speaks for Amer
ican editorial opinion when 1t ap-
who has diplomatic and foreign serv-
ice." and who, consequently, may be
expected to view world questions in a
broad and liberal manner" For. the
New York Post adds, "the record of
tation that he may show as great a
grasp Of International questions as
Benedict XIV exhibited"
Undoubtedly his will be the oppor-
tunity to play "a most important part
In ordering the affairs Of the world in
certainty" the wilkes-Barre Record
believes, and since. as the Columbia
Is. c. State suggests, "he wields per-
haps greater power and influence over
q greater number OF persons than any
other ruler on the elobe." the Roanoke
universal pacification and concilia-
ton q distinctly hopeful" one. Just
what the reported liberal tendencies"
Of Plus xI signify "the world will
have an opportunity to know better as
genuine liberal tendencies" the New
York Globe feels that mo man in the
world has better opportunity to ex-
ercise them than the new head Of the
Catholic Church.
flcation" tho Indianapolis News holds
that Plus XI has q chance that was
denied to Benedict, and there is every
reason to believe he will make the
most Of it." Another new field Is
pointed out by the New York Herald,
1OE several Ol Su0. yOuuB 41OAo
pean republics erected during the
war the Catholic Church, because OF
its hold on its members, Is looked to
as q restraining force needed in the
conflict against socialism, disorder
and the other ills that rise with every
change Of governmental FORM"
To this task the new pontin ts able
to bring "quite exceptional expert.
euce Of contact with secular AFFAIRS"
knowledge which the philadelphia
Bulletin feels may well be Of the
greatest service In guiding the church
through the troubled period whtch
the next few decades are likely to
bring" These varied experiences are
reviewed by many papers. Because OF
his long residence and work In Milan,
where, the Boston Globe says. tndus-
trial questions ara moro nerceiy
fought than ct any other point in in
western Europe" the Hartford Times
saes him entering the Vatican "better
eouipped with drst-hand knowledge
/ of the disturbed social conditions OF
the world and the causes Of them than
has been the good fortune OF most
n connection. with those disturb.
anoes "h6 proved himself 2 power To-
|counteract the spread Of the danger.
|oue radicalism which. the Buffalo
Times gssnaslEA .;Aas heen the grayest