Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-30
Cardinal Schusfer,
|0ne-Iinle Supporter
|N Fascism, Dies
BY The A..oeio,ed Press

! VARESE. italy. Aug. 3O.--
Alfredo Ildefonso Cardina,
Schuster. Roman Catholic Arch
bishop Of Milan, died today Of i
heart collapse. He was "a.
The aged churchman. who
was elevated to the College Of
Cardinals and took over his arch
bishopric in 1929. had been in
failing health for some time. He
died in the papal seminary at
Venegono. near Milan.
In the 1930s he was
an enthusiastic supporter Of
fascism.
The cardinal had suffered from
heart trouble for months but be-
came seriously i'll only recently,
while on q visit to the seminary
near here. Heart specialists at
tended him and he appeared late
last week to be recovering. How
ever. he suffered another at
tack last night and died Just
before dawn.
Ranks Reduced tn ea
His death reduced the Col
lege OF Cardinals to SO, two UNI
der its full membership of 20.
The colleges ranks had been
f1lled for the first time in more
than 200 years at the last con-
sistory in January. 1858, when
Pope Plus XII named "a new
princes OF the church. Massimo
Cardinal Massimi died last
March 6.
The son Of a member of the
Vatican's Swiss guard and a
Swiss mother. Cardinal Schuster
was born in Rome and with his
family became a naturalized
Italian. Following his fathers
death. his mother placed him in
a Benedictine monastery to
study at the age of IL.
He took monastic VOWS at 10.
studied philosophy and theology
at the Benedictine College of ST.
Anselm and was ordained a
priest in 1904.
During the next IA years, as
he rose to successfully higher
offices in the Benedictine order.
he also became an author of note
and an authority on art, music.
history. theology and archaeology.
Other Posts He Held.
Pope Benedict XIV made him
the first president Of the Pom
tifical Oriental Institute. Before
Plus XXI named him to the Col
lege Of Cardinals. he served also
as consultor of the Congregation
OF Rites, procurator general Of
the Congregation of Benedictines
at Monte Casino. president of
the Pontif1cal Commission of
Sacret Art and professor of
liturgy in the Superior School
of Sacred Music.
At his death, he was a mem
Der Of three Of the IL sacred
consistories that order the affairs
of the Roman Catholic Church
for religious orders, rites
and seminaries.
Following the death of Plus
XII, Cardinal Schuster was wide
~ mentioned as a choice to sue
coed him. Plus also had been
Archbishop Of Milan. Plus also
conferred on Cardinal Schuster |
the presbyterial title of Saints |
Sylvester and Martin of the
Mountains, which he himself |
had held. In the secret cleo
ton, however, the cardinals
chose the Vatican secretary of
state. Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli.
who became Plus XII.
Favored Fascism at First.
Cardinal Schuster was one of
The most outspoken of the
,hurch's high officials. In the
early 1930s he made a number
II enthusiastic speeches praising
sascism and for several years
was regarded as the most pro-
fascist Of the cardinals.
Later. however, observers not
ID a diminution in his enthusi-
asm. and when Mussolini's racial
policy. which brought about new
ascension between the church
IND state. Cardinal Schuster
'poke out against the race laws
rom his pulpit in Milan.
After World War II he be-
:ame a leader in the church's
light against communism. In
.94S. he was in the forefront of
ne campaign which resulted in
he smashing election victory
'Ver the Reds by Alcide de Gas
'erls Christian Democratic
OrceS