Pueblo chieftain., 1922-01-22
PAGE SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 1922.


Pope Benedict. XIV, the a5sth success
sor of St. Peter as supreme head of the
Roman Catholic church, began his pom
tlficate on September 6, 1914, soon after
Europe entered upon its four years OF
war. Upon many occasions during the
war he endeavored to bring the belli-
gerent nations to peace agreement
and thus to maintain the title Whlch
had been affectionately bestowed up
or him by a high dignitary of his com
munion as "a messenger God sent 10
bring peace
The war between ITALY and Austria,
In both of which peoples of the tatho-
lie religion predominate. was particu-
larly a great sorrow to the Pope. Those
near to h.:a said he deprecated the Ger
man violation of Belgium. When the
Lusitania was sunk he telegraphed TO
the then Emperor William his abhor-
renee of deed which had shocked the
world
The successor Of Piux X was said
to have combined the craftsmanship
of Pope Leo XIII with the grace of his
immediate predecessor He endeavor-
cd. it is said, to carry out the ideals
and policies of those two great church
men. But the world war, which broke
the heart of Piux Y, saddened the first
four years OF his pondficate and pre-
vented the fulflllment of some of his
aspirations
one of the incidents of his pontifical
career was the visit which President
Wilson paid to him on January 4, 1919,
when the president went to Rome prior
TO the opening of the Peace Confer
ence at Paris. Social and treaty ques-
tions were discussed. 1t is said, during
the private audience at the conclusion
OF which Pope Benedict presented to
his guest handsome mosaic reproduc-
ing Guido Renis famous picture OF
Saint Peter valued at $4,000.
one of the smallest men physically
ever elected to the chair Of st. Peter,
the former Cardinal della Chicsa never
expected TO be thus houored by the
Sacred College and is said TO have
wept when apprised of his election.
lie would have preferred, he said. to
remain q 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 be-
ing waged and his hope that IT. would
quickly end. One week after his coro-
stion, when the Fishernan's Ring
was placed upon his finger, he issued
an Encyclical to the cpiscopacy of the
world in which rulers were eNhorted
to put aside dissensions and to enter
Into council of peace with all speed
The appeal fell on stony ground. how
ever, and later. on December Il, 1914.
the Vatican authorities announced that
the Pope's plan for a Christmas truce
was failing because of the opposition
Of certain power" Reports were that
Russia and Turkey had refused TO
acquiesce- Along a thousand miles OF
battlefront, the following Christmas
day, thousands of cannon Numbered an
answer to Bcnedict's appeal to lay
down yof- arms
Again on January 1s,lsi5. Pope Bene-
dict took up the task OF bringing peace
TO a war-torn world. decreeing that on
February !, priests and laity of the
Catholic church throughout the world
should unite in services and prayers
for the restoration or universal amity
and good will. Tho next occasion
Benedict exercised his humane prero-
gative WAS on July IS. 1915 the first
anniversary OF tho war. when he is
sued an appeal to all rulers. declaring
that blessed be he who first extends
the olive branch and tenders his hand
TO the enemy IN offering his reason
able conditions of peace"
In March, 1916. the Pope again re-
iterated his prayer for the dawn of a
new and better day. Each belligerent
should clearly state his desires" he
said, but should be ready to make the
necessary sacrifices of pride and par
ticular interests" Previously Bene-
oicL nan written TO the late Emperor
Francis Joseph Of Austria asking him
to shorten the war; and likewise
sounded the then Emperor OF Germany
as to tho terms upon which he would
lay down tho gage OF battle.
In May, 1916, Monsignor Bonzano.
papal delegate to Washington. deliver
cd TO President Wilson u message from
the Pope in which he intinated that
America might volunteer to con-
clliate the European belligerents.
on August s. 1917. still hopeful Of
saving the world from veritable
eata>iysn. Pope Benedict issued In his
own handwriting his famous appeal to
the nations, eNhorting the belligerent
rulers to end the war for the sake of
humanity.
The Pope's qualification over the
capture Of Jerusalem by the Allies
under the British General Allenby
caused bitter comment in the German
press. According to the Rome Mes
sagero on December 1s 1917. few
days after the fall of the Holy City.
no warned Christian states against
aiding the Turks in rccapturing 1t.
Pope Benedict's attitude toward the
Peace Conference OF 1919 was said to
have been OF fatherly -olicitude. Early
the previous December, in letter To
President Wilson. he pleaded for aid