Evening star., 1936-02-06
POPE Plus MARKS
14THANNVERSARy
Many Messages Received
as His Holiness Observes
Election to Throne.
Ry the Associated Press.


VATICAN CITY, February 6,-Pope
Plus XI, dedicating his pontificate to
peace. observed the fourteenth ami
yersary of his election to the throne
OF st. Peter today amid alarms OF war.
The 78-year- pontif passed the
day in comparative quiet. He devoted
most of it to reading hundreds of
MESSAGES of congratulation which
came to him from virtually all the
world.
Otherwise, in accordance with his
practice of avoiding every unnecessary
strain, he took no special notice OF the
occasion.
Comment in Newspaper.
The OSservatore Romano. however,
asserted the Pope had already spoken
and acted in the great threat"
against civilization-an editorial inter-
preted by informed sources as an
answer to any possible reproach that
the pontiff has not stopped the 1talo-
Ethiopian war.
The great threat, hitherto vague
and distant. seems to be flaring up as
a devouring flame of every good. of
civilization" the Vatican newspaper
said
There are some who still invoke
his holiness word, as if he had not
clearly pointed out the path of right
eousness made by law and respect for
all laws
There are some who say he is
y1rlon ba
spoken but acted and labored, without
stopping, actuated neither by egoistic
aim nor by worldly scheme.
There are some who want him tt
pronounce a condemnation when the
whole world groans under tremendous
punishment caused by its voluntary
abandonment of God. of His laws o!
truth, justice and charity, and there
fore of true peace"
Coronation Anniversary.
Next Wednesday. the anniversary Of
his coronation. his holiness will at
tend a pontifcal mass in the Sistine
Chapel.
Fourteen years ago. the College o.
Cardinals chose the present Pope
then Cardinal Ratti Of Milan. as the
successor to Pope Benedict XIV aftel
IA ballots.
Subsequently the new pontiff an
nounced his intention to assume the
title Plus XI in these words:
Plus is the name of peace. Since
desire to consecrate my labors to thu
work of the peace of the world, tha
work to which my predecessor, Bene
dict XIV, dedicated his life, I choose
the name of Plus XI."
The last year has provided hin
manifold occasions to exercise his re-
sources in that cause. With Italy a.
war in Ethiopia and a threat of Eu'
ropean hostilities arising the holy
father applied himself quietly bu
earnestly to the preservation OF peace
Active for Peace.
Diplomatic representatives of tht
Holy See were active in Paris anc
other European capitals during the ex
changes from which emerged eventu
ally the short-lived Franco-Britisl
peace proposals.
After the collapse of this plan, th'
holy father confided sadly at Christ
mas that he had hoped to be able tt
utter ''reassuring word but that hi
hopes had mot been fulfilled"
He described the times as being
darkened by "menacing clouds ane
human bloodshed." but said he hac
not abandoned his hopes for peace.
The pontiff reached this anniversary
in apparently good health, although
prelates had said he was depressed
mentally over continuance of the
Ethiopian war. He had cancelee
public audiences Monday after tirine
week end, but resumed them Tuesday