Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-12
Bishop N. Conner
Leads Tribute 10 Pope
Al Catholic University

Tribute to that lonely, white
robed figure" Pope Plus XII, with
arms outstretched bringing
forth the shield of his ministry" to
a world in travail, was paid today
by the Most Rev. Martin j. OCon-
nor, Auxiliary Bishop of Scranton,
Pa. in sermon at the National
Shrine of the Immaculate Concep-
ton, Catholic University, at the
sixth anniversary mass in celebra-
ton of the coronation of the Pope.
To distinguished audience, in
Guiding members of the diplomatic
corps, public officials, members of
Congress and church leaders, Bishop
O'Connor spoke of the Holy Father,
not only as the leader of his church,
but as man with remarkable secu-
lar endowments.
Some one has said with all rever-
ence," he said, that Pope Plus XII
is as modern as the latest invention.
If st. Paul were living, they would
have much in common. To the Holy
Father the major languages of Eu-
rope are fluent asset; he is able
to read the others. He has Travelled
all of this same Europe, visited
South America and is the first Pope
in history who has known at first
hand the length and breadth of our
own United States. AS man, he is
endowed with great genius; he has
enjoyed extraordinary opportunities,
and ranks among the great thinkers
and personalities of our times.
Dear to American People.
"All this has made him dear to
the American people, but particu-
larly to American Catholics, who
look to the Pontiff with unfeigned,
admiring affection as their Holy
Father in Christ. How many
mothers have been consoled these
days with the stories their soldier
sons ana daughters have written OF
an audience at the Vatican. How
many professional correspondents
and photographers, in bringing to
the world truly moving story of
their meetings with the Vicar of
Christ, nave seen tor themselves in
this temporal ruler of the tiny Vati-
can City state one who seeks no
earthly passing power like the rest,
but solely the welfare of the children
of God everywhere committed to his
fatherIy care"
The Pope's assurances of love to
all peoples, he recalled, "have been
no empty words nor soothing gen.
eralities," but Sin some of the most
stirring messages of any age, the
Pope has spoken to all men every
where on subjects whose real mean
ing has been disguised so often by
erroneous opinions"
Bishop O'Connor added: "Yet not
alone in this wise does the Pope
reach out to his children. His per-
sonal representatives are in most of
the countries of the world; his
agencies for information and relief
have helped to dry the tears of
widows and orphans, to console fam
lilies anxious and sorrowing for their
dear ones far away or missing His
chaplains have given the soldier the
lesson of duty without hate; his
gifts and blessing have brought
hope to prisoners and refugees and
the sick in the hospitals of the poor,
in the only too human awakening
joy, that the Pope had thought of
each of them as a father for his
children.
Apostolic Delegate Presides.
But beyond all else does this
lonely white-robed figure stand
forth in our minds eye, arms out
stretched to his family, bringing
forth the shield of his ministry,
prayer, making supplication to with
stand the wrath and put an end
to the calamity"
The Most Rev. Amleto Giovanni
Cicognani, the apostolic delegate,
presided and received after mass.
The celebrant was the Rt. Rev.
Msgr. Francesca Lardone, director
of ecclesiastical studies at Catholic
University. Other clergy taking part
were the Very Rev. Frank Cassidy,
dean of the Catholic Sisters College.
the Rev. DR.. Pasquale Parente of the
School of Sacred Theology, and
the Rev. DR.. Aloysius K. Ziegler of
the Graduate School of Arts and