The Daily Alaska empire., 1940-03-01
By GEORGE (. FORDAN AP Feature Service


 XII. on the first anniversary of his election as Pope, March 2, faces the bitter realization of two of the church's worst fears.
 War in much of Europe and com- munism on the march are the out standing world developments of Plus XII's year as pontiff.
 The Pope has borne up well un- der his tremendous burden.
 His first seven months of prayer and struggle against the onrush- ing war in vain, Plus XII has been forced into the role of an an- guished observer of European af- fairs, doing what he can to re- strain the horrors of the conflict and watching for a chance to lead the way back to peace.
 The Pope lives in monastic se- verity. He usually works and studies till midnight. Tall, thin, ascetic, he has not spared his strength. The habits of keeping fit, eating sparingly and avoiding luxuries have preserved his health. He will be GA years old March ?, his birthday anniversary as well as the anniversary Of his papacy.
 His Single Theme: Peace
 A diplomat of long training, he has used the same skill in handling the problems of the Catholic Church that served him so well when, as Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli, he was Secretary of State Anxiety has constantly beset him. ever since the day when he was called upon to pronounce Plus XI dead. With rare excep- tions, the new Pope's every pub hshed utterance written or yer bal has had peace as it's principal theme
 He has seen Catholic Poland divided between Nazi Germany and Communitsic Russia. He nas spoken feelingly of his hopes Tor Polish resurrection. He has de- plored the outbreak of war and urged an ultimate peace that will avid errors of the past:
 Plan for an Armistice
 With the roar of hostile plane over Poland only few hours oil, Plus XII sent five last desperate notes to the governments con- cerned urging pea oelul settle ment. Two weeks later he told the new Belgian Ambassador to the Holy See he was still watching every opportunity to seck to cen clude a peaee honorable for every one"
 He called on the fighting na- tions to bSerye AzefAa tloonai rules of warfare, to spere aiyi'- ian populations, U refraA. +om using poison gas, and to rreat their prisoners we'll, giving them the comforts of religion.
 His first encyclical, repeatedly postponed as the world outlook grew darker, was a call to sanity ill the midst of war.
 His Christmas Eve address to the cardinals set forth five-poilt base for an eventual just and honorable peace
 These recommendations were.
 l.-Assure every nations right to life and independence.
 2.-Redeem mankind from the slavery of armaments' by dis armament.
 8. Correct the faults in such organizations as the League of Ma tions. s.,s
 4.-Comply with the needs and just demands of nations, peoples and ethnical minorities."
 5. Observe Christian principles
 Shortly after the war began there were stories that the Pope was fasting, even sleeping on the floor of his bedroom, and rising ir the night to pray for peace, The rumors were believed because ol his known tendency toward tha monastic life
 No Prisoner of Vatican"
 Yet Plus XII has gone beyond the confines of Vatican City more times than any Pope. within the first year of election, since the Italian seizure of Rome made tht pontiffs voluntary prisoners with in the Vatican up to the Laterar peace of 1929.
 He has exchanged ceremonial visits with Italy's king and queen on a ruler of the Kingdom. He passed the summer at Castel Gan. dolfo, outside Rome, as was his predecessors wont. He went to the church of St. John Lateran, his cathedral as Bishop of Rome, tc take possession of his see. He has visited the church of St. Mary Ma jor. where he said his first mass