Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-01-30
Effort Of Roosevelt
And Pope Seen as
Spearhead for Peace
Rev. WiIfrid Persons
Pictures Joint Move
As q RoIIyine Point

dean of the graduate school of
Georgetown University, told an au-
dience yesterday afternoon that the
pressure Of Christian public opinion
"rallying behind the united peace
move" of President Roosevelt and
Pope Plus XII may eventually be
the one instrument to end the Euro
pean war.
The Georgetown educator. who is
leading authority on Catholic re-
lations and former editor in chief
of the magazine America, talked on
THE Pope, the President and Peace"
before the Ladies Board of George
town Hospital. He discussed the
possible effects and significance OF
Mr.. Roosevelt's Christmas eve mes
sage to the Pope and his sending
of Myron c. Taylor as a personal
representative to the Vatican City
to assist in peace efforts.
1t was important for the Presi-
dent Ito gain the ear of one who
is in the best position to speak and
deal independently with all the ma
tions," Father Parsons said and eX-
pressed the opinion that no doubt
the neutral nations had asked the
President to make the move. 1t has
served, he claimed, to inspire hope
in millions that this merging of the
spiritual power of the church with
the physical power of the United
States might well bring peace to the
world"
Defends Right to Appointment.
Father Parsons defended the con-
stitutional right of Mr.. Roosevelt to
name the former head of the United
States Steel Corp. as special en-
voy. He declared there was no in
volvement of the recognition of 1.-The
union of church and state" and
ventured the opinion that the act
would result in no consequences
other than its peace" objective.
1t is significant, he said. that Mr..
Taylor has "the rank, not the title
of ambassador" He added: He
is not the private personal repre-
sentative of the President but the
public personal representative of
the President. He does not repre-
sent Franklin D. Roosevelt, the pri-
vate citizen. but Mr.. Roosevelt, the
President of the United States"
In discussing the strategic posi-
ton of the Pope as spiritual sover-
eign of universal church, Father
Parsons stressed the strength gained
by the recognition of the Vatican
State as IAN independent terrific
rial sovereignty" Before the Lat
eran Treaty of 1929, he pointed out,
q nations had ENJOYS stationed at
the Vatican. Now it is recognized
by "a, including all the large ma
tons but the United States and
Soviet Russia" he said.
Cites Independent Status.
The Pope, he declared, owes no
political allegiance to any nation,
being virtually "a man without a
country" When elected Bishop of
Rome, Father Parsons said, the Pope
was lifted from citizenship" and is
the one sovereign in the world who
is absolutely politically independ-
ent."
Father Parsons declared it, is
doubtful if the United States, acting
alone, could hope to bring peace in
Europe. Hitler hates us and con-
sieers us outsiders" he remarked.
On the other hand, he claimed the
Pope is even more powerful in Ger
many now than before, the absorp-
ton OF Austria, Poland and Czecho-
Slovakia having made for "a Cath
olic majority in the empire"
He reminded that "even dictators
are very dependent on public opin-
ion" and expressed the view that
Catholic influence was keeping Mus
solini from engaging in war. While
Hitler has suppressed the Catholic
press, he said, 1.-The bishops can still
talk in the churches"
Much at Stake.
The Catholic Church, more than
any other, has "the greatest stake
in peace" Father Parsons reminded.
AS q universal church, he claimed,
its very life is threatened by its
members warning against each other.
For this reason, he said, Pope Plus
is actually undertaking a campaign
for peace in Germany, England and
France.
The hope of Pope Plus, he said, is
to change the state of mind" and
create in the warning nations IAN
enormous desire for peace and JUS
tice on all sides"
Through this force of public opin-
ion brought to bear through the
joint peace efforts of President and
Pope, he predicted, some kind of
Christian order and mercy will be
set up" Behind such an effort, he
declared, "all persons who believe in
God-Catholics, Protestants and
Jews-can rally"
The meeting yesterday at the uni
versity hospital was arranged as a
benefit by Mrs Leon A. Martel, pres
ident of the Ladies Board, to raise
funds toward the purchase of new
Incubator for the maternity depart