Evening star., 1938-11-26
Two Breakfasts Ask
Prayers for Recovery
Of Pope Plus
Pontiff Is Praised by
Rabbi Simon and
Msgr. Sheen

Msgr. Sheen
Differences in religion were for.
gotten here today as Rabbi Abram
Simon of the Washington Hebrew
Congregation joined the Rev. Fulton
j. Sheen of Catholic University in
praying for the recovery Of Pope
Plus.
In special broadcast to the Ma
ton over National Broadcasting
Co. network last night Msgr. Sheen
paid tributes to the world peace con-
tributions Of the holy father, say
ing:
Our holy father, Plus XII, vicar
OF Christ, 261st successor of st.
Peter, is seriously i'll in Rome"
Msgr. Sheen said.
May I ask that every Catholic
within the sound of my voice this
very night say rosary to our lady
IN the name of her son, Jesus Christ,
for the intention of our holy father.
May 1 also ask that all who differ
IN faith from ours, may in their own
way offer prayer for him who loves
you as Christ loves men.
"Old age has broken his body. The
woes of the world have broken his
heart His spirit. which alone is un-
breakable. is lowering like a flame
between the earth which feeds it and
Heaven which summons it.
Peace Efforts Recalled.
whether that great flame which
has illumined the world is now to
join the Light of the World whose
vicar he is, lies hidden in the in
scrutable designs OF Providence.
Inspired by the Master who did
not have His life taken away. but
laid it down Himself. he. too, offered
himself as holocaust for world
peace.
Two months ago, as the nations
OF the world ratified their sabers and
moved their battering rams and
long-range guns to once more turn
poppy fields into Haceldmas of blood,
this venerable pontiff, in an interna-
tional broadcast. offered his life for
the peace Of the world, if the Lord
of life and death would choose to
take it.
The swords that were drawn are
now sheathed, but the price is in
danger of being paid.
Like Abraham who offered his
son, he offered his life and now as
death hovers near, we look, like
other Abrahams, for an angel of de-
liverance.'
Rabbi Praises POntiff.
Rabbi Simon, in his weekly Jewish
Sabbath broadcast over Station
WJSV, said
Il read this morning with saddened
heart of the stricken condition of the
Pope OF Rome and the request of
Msgr. Sheen of Catholic University
that all of us unite in prayer for
the strengthened life of his holiness.
"As Rabbi of Israel, may I be the
first to answer the call and request
of Msgr Sheen. An anxious world
awaits tremblingly in the sick room
on the halting breath of the greatest
Roman of them all. The mightiest
voice of peace is thinned to
whisper.
Catholics, Protestants and Jews
have joined in one fervent chorus
for the life of the Pope He still
stands in the front of the battle
line for humanity.
His voice still proclaims in mighty
accents his detestation of the new
paganism and the new despotism.
We Jews are most fervent in our
sincere prayers for continued life
and hope. His Godlike plea TO,
long suffering Israel has become
part of our volume of defense
We join Catholics and Protestants
in the hope the Pope shall be spared
to liberty loving world"
Became Pope in 1922.
While the Pope was near death in
Rome, Washingtonians recalled the
visit here in 1886 of Eugenio Car
dinal Pacelli papal secretary OF
state, who would become temporary
head of the Roman Catholic Church
should the holy father die.
For Is days Cardinal Pacelli would
be the supreme head of the apos-
tolic chamber or temporary admin
istrator of Vatican affairs pending
election of new Pope by the Col
lege of Cardinals.
Achille Cardinal Ratti became
Pope Plus XI on February 6. 1922,
only 10 days after the death of his
predecessor, Pope Benedict XIV. Car.
dinal O'Connell of Boston reached
Rome too late to cast his ballot, and
the new Pope assured him the time
limit would be extended to permit
cardinals from the Western Hemi-
sphere to reach Rome in time for
future papal elections. This was
done. and now there would be Is
day interim before the College OF
Cardinals would convene in case of
Pope Plus death.
Cardinal Pacelli made a whirl-
wind tour of the United States two
years ago, it is recalled, visiting
many points of interest, addressing
members of the National Press Club
and climaxing his tour with a visit
to President Roosevelt's home at
Hyde Park.
Widely known throughout the
world and recognized as an out
standing churchman and diplomat,
his name often has been mentioned
as possible successor to Pope Plus
XII.