The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-02-10
Biographical Sketch
OF Late Pope Plus

elapse between the death of a pope
and the converting of the Sacred
College of Cardinals to eject a sue
cessor. Experience had shown
that ten days was too short time
to permit the three American
cardinals and princes of the church
in Canada and Argentina, to reach
Rome in time to vote.
On the death of Pope Benedict,
Cardinal O'Connell had started
immediately from Boston, but he
arrived in Rome several hours aft
er Plus had been chosen. The lat
ter expressed personally to the
American prelate his disappoint-
ment because the United States
had not been represented at the
election.
He explained that the cardi-
nails had seriously considered the
advisability Of adjourning or pro-
longing the sessions, but found
the constitutions were so rigid
that they could not do so legally
But the new pope himself took the
necessary action and made provi.
sion for the extended time with.
in a month after his accession.
But not all was change with
Pope Plus. He held firmly to the
historic position of the church anc
by every means at his dispose
sought to extend it's influence anG
build up its membership. Jealous
in all things that would aid mis-.
sionary activity, he backed the
Congregation for Propagation OF
the Faith by word and deed.
Revived Eucharistic Congresses
He revived, too, the eucharistic
congresses that had languished
through the years of the world
war and in successive biennials or
ganized by personal attention
gatherings of Catholics from all
parts of the world at Rome, Am
sterdam, Chicago, Sydney, Buenos
Aires and Carthage. These great
congresses occurred in successive
biennials starting in 1922 and Plus
himself s2id that they constituted
an enormous influence in perpetu-
ating reverence and church loyalty
among the communicates of all
lands.
He also made overtures for clos
er relations with the Russian Ortiz
odox and other eastern churches
and manifested interest in all
movements looking toward Chris
tian unity. He made it plain
however, that if this unity was to
include the Roman church, it could
be brought about only by a return
of all other sects to the jurisdic-
ton of the Holy See. In fact in
October, 1928. he issued an en-
cyclical declaring that restoration
of the church status which existed
up to the time of the Lutheran
reformation and the secession OF
the Anglican church from juris.
diction of the popes. was the only
basis which he could consider fol
church unity.
Made 1925 A 'Holy Year"
He made 1925 a "holy year.
and in accordance with an ancient
custom battered at the closed door
of st. Peters as the opening ritual
of that observance. Twelve months
later he as tremendously closed
the sacred portal. The calendar
year 1929 was set aside as a spe-
cial period of jubilee observance
in honor OF his half century in the
priesthood and it was observed
throughout with pilgrimages and
ceremonies that were in full accord
with the traditions and history Of
the church.
His insistence upon these as.
poets of his office led to a SHARP
controversy with Premier Musso,
lini OF Italv when the pope de.
nounced the fascist program OF
education. He maintained that il
was the fnnrtion of the Churcl
"~d &C the Chlrch alone to trair
thn vo,'t', - - Ia~ae The Italian
Premier. as insistenfIv held To the