New-York tribune., 1922-01-22
Pope Benedict XIV

The pontiticato OF Giacoluo della
clicsa, Benedict NN, though ncithc,
long nor in itself greatly distiu-
suishc,l, viii doubtless rank among
.ne most noteworthy in history be
xusc Of the great issues which were
thrust upon IT. and the Sovereign
pMiih himself Nlll he remembered
whaps above all other things. hc
arc nc encountered events such a.
nse afflicted few of his prcdcccs
0rs
he was elected to tho Chair Of
Peter only few weeks after the
Nglnniu@ Of tho Wcrld War and
when it had become evident tina;
the struggle would involve and con
vase the major part of Christcn-
dom. He saw the work Of the Church
acga'lVcd, and his heart was sorely
troubled. is said that the out
break Of the war Killed his prcdcces-
sor. which t. probably true. Prob
able. also. Is 1t that to the war he
owcd his own election, since it pre-
vented the intervention Of Austria s
prescr.ptive veto However, this may
be. he was Immediately called to tho
hard task Of administering the af-
fairs OF the Church III belligerent
MuntricS on both sides.
In such circumstances he had to
act in the triple capacity Of &C
clesiastir. statesman and man. As
the FIRST hi~ duty was to regard with
equal affection ihc Church in ITALY
and in Austria. in Belgium and in
Germany. y statesman his place
required neutrality. with a bencv-
oIcht readiness to serve both sides in
cHecting- if possible. d cessation Of
hostlliiics ~ man he was in
ovltaby rcVoltcd by the crimes and
atrocities Of Germany. and as an
Italian he could scarcely avoid sym
pathy with Italy heroic struggle.
HIS repeated ch'crts for peace
we're forcdcomed to failure. Nati-
can policy being against the break
up Of Austria, his mediation natu-
faiiN d'd not appeal to the sentiment
" 'Iy countries. At last he real
lzed iaat pcaec proposals we're vain
uni" the power Of Germany was
Broken The policy Of "frightfu-
ocss,' he declared. had alicnated
from Germany tho sympathy cf all
Heutrais.
it fell to his lot to sec and to
assist In furlhering 2 settlement of
The age-long Irish controversy. in
which he Roman Catholic Church
was Intimately and profoundly con
cerncd In il his feelings were
aVldcd lis love OF Iav, and order
'ausod him - regard with stern dis
APPRECIATION the violent deeds Of the
extreme members Of Sim I'ein.
Fne his affection for Ireland as
'Nyal Cauehtcr of the Church I'M
Faed him 10 desire the realization
ner nationalist aspilation-. HI
aas counsel to he republican lead
as to accept compromise Wa al
afst rejected. bot in the end Il
proved potent In a most vital way
rope Benedict was . founder of the
''ish Free State. and viii be so &c
memberea
1t was also his good fortune 10
%cure restoration Of large meas
sFe Of frienav re's tions with
rance al achievement greatly
!. '.c'llta'ed by th4 aaeriotic course !
y French Cathoi.e o.. .ests as well
. laymen in the w&r. During tha
''e 'cud between The French /
~ sV'efnment and thc Church was
*. t'ge'T forgotten. and not long after
N me fetuFn Of peace the Pope had
'as 'a', srsslHcation G seeing tina; gov
:, wa. 'nt provide ior the resumption
- - ''piomatic relations through the
,aa sppV''''ment of French envoy to
All Of these things-and MANY
s'Y' - Benedict XIV saw. and
,s' 'se part of them ne was. The re-
,I.,,' sc winch wells the Vatican rem
,a.'< s's 1t difficult to estimate the OK
.n;,;.. " "n'ch the Pope personally
u''s'cS' directs and controls its cx
,,a' a' pol'cies- But from all that
DeeH known Of Giacomo della
'a II may confidently he as.