Evening star., 1939-02-10

Broadcast Scheduled
For Anniversary Eve
Is Rewritten
Plans were under way today for
special services mourning the death
of Pope Plus XI, while leaders in
the religious life of the city joined
in paying tribute to the Holy
Father.
At Catholic University, where a
broadcast on the eve of the 17th
anniversary of the coronation of
the Pope had been planned for to-
morrow afternoon, officials were oc-
cupied with rewriting the program
to mourn his passing.
Archbishop Michael j. Curley of
Baltimore, chancellor of Catholic
University, who was to have come to
Washington to broadcast a greeting
to the Pope by short wave, will con-
duct memorial services during the
program.
Special Masses Planned.
Catholic churches in Washington
and Maryland will hold special
masses and many of the churches
will be draped In mourning Dates
of the special masses have not yet
been set.
There will be general communion
of the student body of Georgetown
University for the Pope Sunday in
Dahlgren Chapel and special services
are being planned for the next few
days.
The Very Rev. Arthur A. OLeary,
S. j., president of Georgetown Uni
versity, paid tribute to the holy
father as a valiant leader whose
encouragement and wise direction
have proven a bulWark of strength
in facing the problems of the mod
ern educational world"
Last Words Typical.
''His holiness last words, I have
many things to do manifest the
unconquerable spirit which in spite
of failing health gave him strength
to face the world problems which
made his pontifcate one of the
most difficult in the long history of
the papacy." he said.
In his death all the lovers of
peace and orderly government have
lost a brave and unSelfish leader
and sympathetic friend, His
undying struggle against commu-
nism and subversive cankers of ma
tional life gave his name to pos
terity as a sincere and practical
advocate of human freedom"
Predicting that Pope Plus XI
would be recognized in years to
come as the "outstanding protector
and defender in his day of the rights
and liberties of mankind" the Most
Rev. John NJ Mcnamara, auxiliary
bishop of Baltimore and rector of
St. Gabriel's Church here. said:
His Holiness. Plus XI. came closer
to the people of the world than any
of his predecessors in office Through
the facilities offered by the radio he
entered into the homes of every ma
ton and spoke to the people as one
who had made their problems and
SufterlngS his own.
Opposed Ruthless Rulers.
"Nor will it be forgotten that he
was utterly fearless in his opposition
to powerful and unscrupulous rulers,
who, with view to making man the
slave of the state, put governments
before God. Plus XI will be remem-
bered not less for his strong and
courageous heart than for his bril-
liant and scholarly mind.
He would have died for his cause
as willingly and gladly as he lived
for it. To acclaim him as one
of the great Popes of the centuries
is merely to anticipate the verdict of
history"
One of the first Washington Off
cials to comment was the Very Rev.
Msgr. William R. Arnold, chief of
Army chaplains, who said: In the
death of Pope Plus XII, men of all
creeds and races have lost a wise
and valued and a devoted friend
In transient world of error. sin
and suffering, he was a beacon of
light and an ineXhaustible source of
strength, courage and comfort"
Comment from Other Faiths.
Leaders of other faiths who eX-
pressed their sympathy and paid
tributes to the Pope's tolerance and
work to preserve peace included
Bishop James E. Freeman and
Rabbi Norman Gerstenfeld.
The death of Pope Plus" said
Bishop Freeman. removes one of
the great religious leaders of the
world. He was not only the su-
preme head of great church but
the exponent of the ideals of peace
and equity in time of extreme
stress and strain.
During these more recent critical
years he has courageously pre-
sented to the world the Christian
program that contemplates an or
dered and orderly world. In days
such as these through which we
are now passing all Christians find
common ground in preserving the
wholesome and decent things of
life.
Sympathy Extended.
THE diocese OF Washington,
through its bishop, expresses. deep
sympathy to the Roman Catholic
Church for the great loss it has
sustained"
"All of Washington Jewry." said
Rabbi Gerstenfeld, "mourns the
passing of the Pope. He was
profound spirit who saw in Fascist
radicalism the cursed heresy of the
pagan of our time. The Pope was
respected and loved by nearly all
followers of the Jewish faith. We
mourn his passing and say of him
as we do of our own precious dead,
May the memory of the righteous be
for blessing"