Evening star., 1943-07-21
Pope

rope
Continued From First Page.)
spirits and moderates passions and
rancor
Recalls Early Christians.
an our quality as bishop of this
sublime city we did everything pos
sible-and you. cardinal, have fol-
lowed all our actions-that our we'll
beloved Rome might be spared the
horrors and the wreckage of bomb
ings. Without wishing to recall the
great historic Importance of this
ancient city. Rome for us is the holy
city Of Catholicism, to which Christ
gave new and more sublime glory,
marked by marvellous religious and
artistic monuments, guardian of
precious relics and documents.
Rome in the days of persecution
had the catacombs, the first shell
ters, of Christian martyrs, who
sanctifled the amphitheaters and
circuses and whose sepulchres. still
are places of prayer. Romes ter
ritory is filled with churches and
numerous papal institutions and
works, international institutions
and colleges sponsored by us. in
Vulnerable sanctuaries, without
counting our magnificent patri-
arehial basilicas, libraries and
works of the great geniuses of the
arts. Rome is where so many peo-
pie come from over the world to
study not only faith. but ancient
wisdom, and these consider this city
as a beacon of civilization founded
on Christian virtues.
Rome is sacred not only to the
Holy See but to the whole Catholic
world.
Recalls Appeal.
I'VE spoke clearly and several
times to the proper persons, recon-
mending the safety of Rome. in the
name of human dignity and Chris
tian civilization. 1t seemed proper
to hope that the reasons given, the
authority which we exercise. general
recognition of our impartiality and
benevolence visited upon all with
out distinction of nationality or re-
llgion, would have gained for us
the comfort among SO many troubles
of finding our efforts for Rome IA
vorably received by the belligerents
But alas our hope was vain. And
now that which We feared has hap
pened. That which we foresaW now
Is sad reality for one of the noted
Roman basilicas, that of San Loren
70 outside the walls, venerated by
all Catholics for its antique memo
ries, is now in great part destroyed.
Upon seeing the ruins of this noted
temple the words of the Prophet
jeremiah come to memory"
Makes New Appeal.
The painful experience of the
facts demonstrated once again that
no matter what precautions one
wishes to exercise it is almost i'm
possible on this sacred soil of Rome
to avoid the destruction of vener-
able structures. That is why we
believe it is our duty again to raise
our voice in defense of the great
values which are ornaments of
human and Christian greatness. 1t
is our sacred intention dictated by
our heart to safeguard and protect
before all right thinking people and
before the judgment of future gen.
erations. the spiritual treasures
which have been conf1ded to us to
be guarded and handed on
Our word which springs from a
wounded heart does not wish to
excite to resentment or to hate. but
is an insistent CALL and we hope an
effective one, to the sentiments of
noble understanding of the sacred
destiny of Rome and to sentiments
of humanity and Christian charity.
Urges Christian Resignation.
I'VE have sought with all the
means at our disposal to go i'm
mediately to the aid of our people
of Rome suffering so cruelty and
whose miserable condition in the
midst of recent ruins we have seen
with Our eyes. We say to them:
Give proof today more than ever
of that ardent faith for which the
apostle of the world praised your
ancestors. Let Christian resigna-
ton cause you to accept pain and
privations. May misfortune be for
you a spur to purify your souls, to
expiate your sins, to bring you back
or bring you nearer God.
ITO all our children who turn
their eyes toward Rome and to the
Vicar of Christ who in his Office of
bishop is the special and affec-
tionate father. wherever they may
be, and especially those who suffer
and those who are sympathetic to
the many human miseries we ad-
dress insistently an invitation to
direct their prayers with confidence
to God so that he may speed the
hour of his mercy when arms are
laid down, souls pacified and the
light and JOY of true peace shall
shine again on troubled world.
TT is with this hope in our heart
that we give to you, cardinal, and
to our dear clergy and the people
of Rome the apostolic benediction.
Done at Rome, at st. Peters. July
20 of the year 1943, the fifth of our
pontiflcate. tSignedD Plus XII"