The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1958-10-17


Palestine and sought refuge in
neighboring countries. Dis
tressed by their plight, the
Holy Father appealed to the
worlds Catholics to come to
their aid. To administer that
aid he set up the Pontifical
Mission for Palestine, through
which large amounts of food,
clothing and medicine were
distributed to Arab DPS
both Christian and Moslem.
After the war as during it
the Pope did all he could to
ease the suffering of its vic
Tins.
Shortly after the wars end,
example, truck conveys left
the Vatican for western Ger
many to aid the huge masses
of refugees then pouring into
that area. Large relief ship
ments were sent periodically
to some so nations through
out the world.
In another attempt to solve
the DIP. problem the Pope
sought to find new homes for
refugees and to provide means
for their emigration. He told
nations with surplus land that
it was their duty to place it
at the disposal of the landless.
He organized the Vatican Mi
grafton Bureau to aid emf
grants, and In 1851, the Inter-
national Catholic Migration
Commission was established
at his request.
Nor were his relief efforts
restricted to those uprooted
and left destitute by war. He
also sent frequent gifts Of
money and goods to victims
of natural disasters, to the
poor and orphans, both Ca
tholic and non-C Catholic, all
over the world. In Italy the
Pontifical Relief Commission
set up a huge welfare pro-
gram which included the es-
Enlistment of thousands Of
camps with enough space to
give summer vacations to
100000 needy children.
THE HOLY YEAR
On Holy Thursday, 1919,
Plus XII decreed the 1850
Holy Year. He urged Catho-
lies everywhere to make q
pilgrimage to Rome, to pray
and do penance during the
year that those outside the
Church might return to 1t.
During 1850 more than
100000 pilgrims from the
four corners Of the earth
flocked to Rome to receive the
Holy Year INDUCES and wit
ness the many special events
that took place there.
Among the most important
Of these events were the eight
lamentations and eight beati-
fications in st. Peters.
Highlights of the Holy Year
was the Pope's proclamation
of the doctrine Of the Assump-
ton OF Our Lady. II was the
first Papal definition of q
dogma since Plus ks pro-
clamation Of the Immaculate
Conception In 1854.
On Christmas Eve, 1850, the
Holy Year In Rome came to an
end. But the next day the
Pope extended 1t to the entire
world. Catholics of all nations
were given 4 chance to gain
the Holy Year indulgences In
1881 without going to Rome
by making a pilgrimage to
churches in their own diocese
designated by their Bishop.
MORE NEW CARDINAL!
Late in 1852, by which time
the College Of Cardinals had
fallen to 46 members, Plus
XII called the second con.
sistory of his reign. He ele-
waited "a prelates from IL ma.
tons to the rank of Cardinal,
thus bringing the Sacred Col.
lege up to its full strength Of
20 for the first time in some
$50 years.
Following the 1883 consist
DRY more countries had Z
Cardinal than ever before In
history. Four nasions-coIom.
bis, Ecuador. India and Yuso'
sIsvia-wsrs given their first
Cardinals. Two Of The new
members. Cardinal Stepinse
and Cardinal Wyszynski, were
unable to come TO the con
sissory because Of commvnisi
persecution Of religion in their
homsIsnds. Plus XII. who he'd