Evening star., 1937-05-30
POPE'S BLESSINGS
SENT T0GERMANY
"Grave Events Are Happen
ing," He Says, Following
Speech by GoebbeIs.
b the Associated Press.

CAsTEL GANDOLNO. Italy, May
29-venerable Pope Plus XII. with his
S0th birthday anniversary only two
days oil. in vigorous utterance today
sent special blessings to German
Catholics to fortify them against q
fierce new Nan attack.
The holy father said, Every grave
events are happening" in Germany
where last night the NaH regimes
movement against the Catholic church
reached new heights Of bitterness in
q speech Of Propaganda Minister Paul
Joseph Goebbels.
While preparations for the celebra-
ton Monday Of the pope's 80th birth
day anniversary went on at his Sum-
mer home here he addressed . group
OF pilgrims. including some from Ger
many. who brought greetings on his
completion Of foursoore years. He
sAid
THE holy father, feeling himself
near to all his German sons. blesses
with all his heart and affection not
only those present here, but all 9TH
ers who are united by the same feel
Ing of faith and devotion to their re-
lgion.
Need for Social Life.
I'VE are pleased to see that you
come from q part Of the great Chris
tian family where very grave events
are happening and where there is SO
much need for insisting on Christian
social life for the individual and for
the family ="
Pope Plus, who has reached . great
er age than most of his predecessors
and has had one Of the longest reigns
In the recent history Of the papacy-
Is years-after . month at Castel
Gandolfo appears in improved health,
Is sunburned and shows vigor in his
work.
Six months ago he began q strug-
gle against serious illness, amazed
prelates and physicians by his forti-
tude and recovered sufficiently to
come to Castel Gandolfo q month and
q half earlier than usual
But he Is fully aware that he Is still
. sick man. Although he has con-
quered crisis, he knows that over
exertion may lead to sharp reversal
Of bis progress.
The Pope will preside over q variety
Of ceremonies in celebration of his
birthday. Chief among them will
be the Inauguration Of the new Pom
tif1cal Academy he created last year,
and the closing Of the International
Exposition of the Catholic Press.
Among Americans who have indi-
Gated they will attend the academy
inauguration are DR.. George c. Birk-
hoff Of Harvard University. DR.. Alexis
Carrel OF the Rockefeller Institute
and DR.. Hugh s. Taylor Of Prince
ton University
Ahead Of Vacation Time.
The Pope came to Castel Gandolfo
ahead OF schedule this year for 4
real vacation. Last year he came
to work and worked too hard. Now
his audiences are cut to . minimum
In his daily private audiences he re-
ceives only one or two cardinals or
other Vatican executives and occa-
sionally q visiting prelate.
Public audiences are limited to two
per week. Wednesdays and Saturdays.
His holiness no longer walks alone
to audiences, he IS carried In a porta-
bic chair to . room adjoining the
audience chamber and from there
walks In and is assisted to the throne.
He loves Castel Gandolfo, and be-
Heves it helps his health. He over
ruled DR.. Amanti Milani, his physi-
clan, when he objected that tie Sum-
mer residence was too humid at this
time Of year. He has said that he
does not wish to return to the Vatican
before October or November.
Pope Plus does not handle all AZ
fairs now. but his word, even If whis-
pered. is still law. He relies more
and more upon the papal secretary
OF state, Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli.
Pope Plus XII was born May 81,
1857, at Deiso. near Milan, Italy. He
was elected to the papacy Feberuary
9, 1922.
a