Evening star., 1934-11-19

NSOIlIllluCQ ElOiii Chot d6CJ
had the honorary title of cousin Of the
King.
Besides his great work in behalf Of
the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal
Gasparri was noted for his efforts for
universal peace.
Immediately upon assuming his
duties as Papal secretary of state in
1914, little more than two months
after the outbreak of the World War,
he Joined with the late Pope Bene-
dict XIV in an attempt to terminate
the conflict.
ForeSeeing the great slaughter OF
humans and the devastation OF prop
erty with so many nations involved In
the War, Cardinal Gasparri, with the
approval Of the Holy Father. carried
on diplomatic negotiations with the
various governments. but to no avail.
With the elevation OF Plus XI to
the Papal throne and the continue
ton of Cardinal Gasparri as secre-
tary of state, the latter inspired and
directed a new active policy Of the
Catholic Church, throwing the full
force of the church into the effort to
establish permanent peace. The Pope
was in full accord and sympathy with
the move.
Pushed French Concord.
Ever a power among proponents Of
reconciliation between the Vatican
and France. the cardinal worked dill
gently to bring about that result even
before attaining to the secretaryship.
Once in that office he exerted all the
authority of 1t in behalf of that con-
cord, and finally, with France once
more represented at the Holy See. he
turned his attention toward the task
of renewing friendly relations between
the church and the Italian govern
ment.
Negotiations between the church
and the state were carried on quietly,
until in February, 1929. the Lateran
treaty was signed, bringing to an end
the dispute which had prevailed be-
tween the Vatican and Italy since
1870. Cardinal Gasparri signed the
accord for the Vatican, which thereby
became all independent state. For the
first time since the occupation OF Rome
by the troops of the modern Italian
kingdom, the Pope ceased to be the
prisoner Of the Vatican"
Pope Plus XII presented Gasparr1
golden cross set with rubies and dia-
monds in recognition of his part in
the treaty, and subsequently King
Victor Emmanuel III bestowed on him
the Order Of the Annunziata, Italy's
highest decoration, which makes its
holder a titular cousin Of the Italian
monarch.
Vatican circles and the Pope him
self generally compared Gasparri with
the noted Cardinal Consalvi, the
papal secretary of state who nego-
tiated with Napoleon I. Gasparri had
wanted to retire long before he re-
linquished the office in February, 1880,
when he was succeeded by Eugenio
Cardinal Pacelli. His retirement was
delayed, however. at the request OF
the Pope, who urged him to remain
in office until conclusion of the
Lateran pact.
Opponent Of Fascism.
Among the cardinals, Gasparri was
the strongest opponent Of Fascism.
His attitude, however, was only part
of his general peace scheme and was
Influenced because of the position he
had taken to lead the Catholic
Church into a general opposition to
all forms of dictatorship and mon
archistic governments.
Cardinal Gasparri was born in
Visco, in the diocese Of Norcia, Italy,
May S, 1852 He was ordained to the
priesthood in 1877 and shortly after
wards was given the chair of canon
law in the Catholic Institute of Paris,
where he remained II years. While
in Paris he published many treatises
on canon law and marriage. Raised
to the bishopric he was delegated in
1898 as papal nuncio to Peru, Ecuador
and Bolivia.
Returning to Rome, he was ap-
pointed in May. 1907, as an assistant
at the pontificial throne and in De-
cember of the same year was created
a cardinal Pope Plus x, who as
sumed the throne after the death Of
Leo XIII, entrusted Cardinal Gas
parri with the colossal undertaking OF
modifying and codifying the canon
law. He worked at the task constantly
for more than II years and his &C
complishment was praised by Catholic
prelate throughout the world.