Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-25
~ the Associated Press,

from the teri OF the Vatican radio
German language broadcast, as re-
corded tonight by the United States
Foreign Broadcast Intelligence Seru-
ice
In the last few days DNB state
ment appeared in the press accord
ing to which the Holy Father had
already sent personal protest to
President Roosevelt after the at
tack on Rome and that the Ameri-
can Charge d'Affaires to the Holy
See. Mr.. Tittman, had been called
to discussion by the state secretariat
on the evening of July 10, the day
on which the attack took place.
In this connection We state that
both assertions have no foundation
in fact whatever.
1t will be valuable to emphasize
clearly what the Holy Father has
done in connection with the bomb
ing of Rome, since so many rumors
have been spread. The Holy Father
did two things: he visited the
bombed districts. and he wrote a
letter to the vicar general Of Rome.
All thiss is within the framework
of the charitable activity carried out
by the Pope as father and shepherd
of his diocese.
The Holy Father addressed a
letter to the vicar general of Rome
dated July 90 This letter was pub
Hshed in the organ Of neutral and
independent Vatican City, OsSer-
vatore Romano.
Foreign news agencies took the
text of the letter thereform. It is
obvious that italian agencies. for
example. Stefani, are included
among the foreign news agencies.
Other Messages Cited.
The following must be said re-
earding the letter written by the
Holy Father:
l. The Holy Father explains in
this letter how deeply he recon-
mended to all belligerents. fighting
on whatever side. from the begin
ming OF the conflict. the safety of
peaceful citizens and of religious
and cultural monuments. This let
ter is by no means the first docu-
ment Of its kind. In the messages
of the Holy Father since the out
break Of the war we find again and
again admonitions to this effect,
which are for reasons of humanity,
civilization and Christian love.
We point particularly to the Eas-
ter message Of Plus XII in 1s4l. at
the time when the air raids on Eng
land were in the forefront of the
war
2. In this letter the Holy Father
states all the reasons that he sub
mitted to responsible circles. and
that means to responsible circles
on both sides. in order to effect
the inviolability of Rome. This
passage in the letter gives hint
of efforts made by the Holy Father
to declare Rome an open city.
3 In this letter the Holy Father
announced the fact of the destruc-
ton of the Basilica of San Lorenzo
Fuori Mura but he did this in an
objective manner.
He did not say that the Basilica
was completely destroyed. as was
stated in newspape nor did he say
that the greatest part of the Basili-
ca was destroyed-"in piu grande
parte" What he said was that a
very great part-'in grandissima
parte"-was destroyed.
Basilica Damage Pointed Out.
In fact. the front part of the
Basilica, which is composed Of two
churches, is nearly completely de-
stroyed The high altar has suf-
fered serious damage.
The ancient part situated behind
Is, however, apart from the effect of
some shell splinters. essentially in
tact, just as are the crypt and grave
of Plus TX.
Therefore the Holy Father has
DOT exaggerated. Apart from other
reasons. it was his right to mention
the fact, since this basilica was the
possession of the neutral Vatican
state. Every neutral state raises its
voice when its territory is crossed by
aircraft, attacked or violated.
Moreover, this basilica, one of the
seven main pilgrimage churches of
Rome. belongs in one sense to Cath
olics of the whole world.
The Holy Father Is very willing to
believe that the bombs were not in
tentionally dropped on the Basilica
He says expressly in his letter that
this painful event had proved what
he had always warned against
namely, that it was virtually impos-
xible to avoid. on this sacred soil OF
Rome, the devastation of revered
buildings even if precautionary
measures were taken.
Only Insistent AdmOnition.
I. In his letter the Holy Father
says his words are not intended to
incite to anger and hatred, but are
meant only to represent insistent
admonition to noble understand
ing Of the exalted conception of
Rome. In this connection it must
be emphasized that Rome is indeed
something without equal. This sin
eularity should be respected in the
interests of humanity and civ;liza-
ton ana of Christian love
This statement of the Holy Father
Is. like the others. not addressed to
one of the belligerents, but TO
both sides
1t would have been possible to
make Rome actually an open city.
It must be regretted that at least
up to the present moment this had
not been done.
5. The Holy Father is also not
unaware that other towns have suf-
Tered terribly, nor is he unaware
that churches have been destroyed
In countries of both belligerent sides.
The Holy Father is also aware
that injuring of the mystical body
of Christ weighs much heavier than
the destruction OF stone houses of
God, and that disregard of the laws
of humanity and morality, of justice
and of personality. weighs heavier
than a violation OF cultural monu-
ments.
All this, however, does not make
1t unjustifiable once again to raise
ones voice on this very occasion