Evening star., 1939-03-03
World Peace
First Appeal
Of New Pope
Plus XII Sets His
Coronation for
March II
BACKGROUND

rope rus hl 01eU feOTUuTy
10 at close of 18th year of reign
oDer Catholic church. Strty-
tWo cardinals gathered in Rome
and 1Uere locked in secret con-
Glaze Wednesday afternoon. Be-
fore "a hours had gone by, the
princes OF the churc1, had elect
ed Eugenio Card1ndt Pdcelh,
secretary OF state under Plus
XII, as the nep ponti6, Whtte
smoke pouring from a chimney
leading from Sistine Chapel an
nounctng the result.
BY the Associated Press.
VATICAN CITY, March 3.-Pius
XII opened his pontificate today
with a strong appeal for peace and
a special prayer "in these trouble
some and difficult hours" for those
who guide the destinies of nations.
His appeal was broadcast to the
entire Christian world less than "a
hours after his election to the
throne of st. Peter and shortly
after he had set his coronation for
Sunday. March IL.
Speaking for 5 minutes in Latin
from the Sistine Chapel, he ex-
pressed his hope and appeal for
that peace, sublime gift of heaven,
which is desired by all honest souls
and which is the fruit of charity and
justice"
Prayer for Statesmen.
I'VE invite everybody to peace of
conscience, tranquil in the friend
ship of God; to peace of families,
united and harmonized by holy love
of Christ and, finally, to peace
among nations through mutual,
brotherly assistance and friendly
collaboration he said.
In these troublesome and diff
cult hours SO many difficulties seem
to impede attainment of that peace
which is the most profound inspira-
ton of hearts, We raise to the Lord
a special prayer for all those who
are intrusted with the high honor
and the grave burden of guiding
peoples on the road to prosperity
and progress"
Thus, like his predecessor, Plus
XII. Plus XII made peace the key
stone of his policy.
His Holiness began his message
with an expression of most profound
emotion before the tremendous re-
sponsibilty to which Divine Provi-
dence in its inscrutable designs has
called U.S."
He gave his "paternal embrace" to
the Sacred College of Cardinals-of
which until yesterday he was a
member as Eugenio Cardinal Pa
celli-and then extended his bless
ings to the brothers of the Episco-
pate, the priests and nuns, missions,
Catholic Action and "all our sons
throughout the world
The pontif said his run also to
all those who are outside the
church, to those who will be pleased
to know that the Pope raises for
them to the highest and greatest
God, prayers and wishes for every
good"
BenedictiOn for Italy.
In response to the message of con-
graduation on his election from Pre-
mier Mussolini, Plus XII invoked
divine aid for the Italian govern
ment and bestowed his apostolic
benediction.
The secretary of states Office ac-
knowledged II Duce's greeting, sent
last night. with a telegram which
said his message "in the name of be-
loved Italy" confirmed what the
people of Rome eloquently signi-
fed"
Grateful to your excellency and
to all members of the government,
it added, "the Holy Father invokes
divine assistance on you and sends
the entire nation one of his first
apostolic benedictions."
His Holiness personally addressed
a telegram to King Vittorio Eman-
uele. thanking him for his congrat-
ulations and with wishes for the
welfare of the King and Queen as
(See POPE, Page A-4.)