The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1922-01-27
s s-.. "SpE ACTIVE
an WORLD AFFAIRS
Benedict XIV Sought POlit-
ical Relations With
All Nations.


XIV from the very beginning of hi
pontifcaie showed that he woul'
above all be a political Pope, follow
ing the policy of his early friend an'
counsellor. Cardinal Rampolla, anC
Of Leo KILL Plus X died of grie
for not having been able to preven
the World War and Benedict XIV
expended such energy in trying tC
stop or mitigate the conflict thai
many people, including severa
American archbishops and bishop:
who approach him afterward, think
that the efforts made in this endeav'
or seriously affected his constitution
Like Len XIII, he was most anx'
fous TO establish diplomatic relations
with all the countries, whether
Catholic or not, and he succeeded in
having in Rome representatives OF
the entire world, with the exception
of the Scandinavian States in Europe
ana the United States in the Ameri-
can continent.
While negotiations were proceed
ing for the establishment of papal
nuncio at Toxic, Benedict XIV failed
to have an inter-nuncio appointed at
Pekin thru the opposition of the
French government, which, it is said,
feared that papal representative in
China might affect their right. of pro-
tecting the Catholics in the Far East.
France was helped on that occasion,
il is said here, by the United States,
which objected to the appointment
of MOnsignor Peprelli as inter-nuncio
aDti-American feelings as shown
while apostolic delegate to the
Philippines.
With U. ;. On Lusitania.
Benedict XIV always showed a
great desire for the closest relations
with America and left nothing un-
attempted TO show his sympathy in
anything affecting the United States.
This was shown on the occasion of
the sinking of the Lusitania, when
the Pope, Notwithstanding his strict
neutrality in the war-he preferred
to call it "impartiality"- autographed
TO ths kaiser his adherence of the
action which had shocked the civil
lied world.
The Pope always regarded the
United States as a country which
would play an important part in
bringing the pacification of Europe.
and thru Monsignor Bonzano, the
apostolic delegate in Washington, he
sent on several occasions during the
recent war messages to President
Wilson expressing the feeling that
America might assist in conciliating
the belligerent countries.
His most important effort in favor
of the conclusion of peace was the
uofe he sent on August 1, 1917, to all
the powers, which was forwarded to
President Wilson thru England, as
there are no diplomatic relations be-
tween the holy see and the United
States. Benedict XIV always main
tanned that his note was the first
step toward the present Washington
conference on limitation of arma-
ment. Indeed, he went much fur
thar by suggesting the suppression
of conscriptions as the only means
10 induce the European countries to
disarm.
Notwithstanding his ardent desire
for establishing diplomatic relations
with all countries. Benedict XIV
never pressed any such course with
regard to America, as even the Cath
ole episcopacy in the United States
did moi favor any such plan for fear
THAT it might injure the situation OF
Catholicism. which, It is felt, has
prospered under the complete free
dom of American rule.
Two Likely As Successor.
When former President Wilson
went to Rome in January, 1919, and
decided to visit the Pope, the neces-
sary negotiations had to be carried
thru the American ecclesiastical col
leg, there not being an accredited
representative of the United States to
the Vatican. 1t was arranged that
the American President would go
from the Quirinal Palace, where he
lived as guest of the king, to the
American Embassy and from there
drive to the Vatican. Thomas Nell
son Page, the American ambassador
90 italy, accompanied Mr.. Wilson as
far as the entrance gate to the
Vatican, but went no further, as he
was accredited to a ruler who does
not entertain any official relation
with the holy see.
In the speculation as to who will