Evening star., 1962-09-12
Pope Issues
Council Aims,
Peace Plea

PedCe Pled
VATICAN CITY, Sept. II
AP).-Pope John XIII said
last night the Ecumenical
Council Of the Roman Catho-
lie Church will seek ito cure
and heal the wounds Of the
two conflicts (world warsJ
which have profoundly changed
the face Of all countries"
The worldwide council opens
here next month.
In a 2,500-word radio ad-
dress to Catholics throughout
the world. the Pope made re-
peated pleas for peace and
social justice.
I'VE are living in the midst
Of a new political world" he
said.
"One Of the fundamental
rights which the church can
never renounce is that Of re-
ligious liberty, which is not
merely freedom of worship.
The church vindicates sand
teaches this liberty, and on
that account she continues to
suffer anguishing pain in many
countries"
Heal the Wounds"
Pope John pointed out that
his church's 21st Ecumenical
Council in 1000 years comes
just II years after the end of
World War II.
For the first time in his
tory" he said, "the fathers of
the council belong, in reality.
to all peoples and nations, and
each Of them will bring his
contribution of intelligence and
OF experience to cure and heal
the wounds of the two conflicts
which have profoundly changed
the face of all countries"
The leader of the worlds 500
million Roman Catholics said
the world seeks a solution to
its problems, sometimes with
anguish.
THE busy preoccupation to
solve them with timelinesS, but
also with rectitude, can place
an obstacle to the spread Of the
whole entire truth and Of that
grace which sanctifies," the 30
year-old Pontiff asserted.
Mans Yearnings
Pope John listed mans yearn-
ings: Love of a family around
the hearth, daily bread for him
self and his loved ones, a life
Of peace within nation and
world. Then the Pope said:
These most grave problems
press ever upon the heart of
the church. Hence she has
made them an object of atten-
tive study. and the Ecumenical
Council will be able to present,
in clear language, solutions
which are demanded by the
dignity Of man and of his voca-
tioga az Q Christian. -
Here are some of them:
"The fundamental equality
OF all peoples in the exercise
OF rights and duties within the
entire family of nations.
"The strenuous defense of
the sacred character Of matri-
mony, which imposes upon the
married couple an understand
ing and generous love, from
which results the procreation
of children considered in its
religious and moral aspect,
within the framework of the
gravest responsibilities of a
social nature, in time and for
eternity.
Indifference Hit
Doctrines which favor reli-
gious indifference or denial of
God and of the supernatural
order, doctrines which ignore
Providence in history and exalt
out Of all proportion the per-
son Of the individual man with
the danger of removing him
from his social responsibilities"
Pope John said that where
the .undeveloped countries are
concerned, the church presents
herself as she is and as she
wishes to be-as the church of
all, and especially as the church
Of the poor"
He said the impelling duty
Of the Christian is to see to
1t that created goods are ad-
ministered and distributed to
the advantage Of all mankind.
Church State Relations
The Pope next discussed
church-state relations and as
serted religious liberty as a
fundamental right Of the
church.
"The church cannot renounce
this liberty because its is in
separable from the service she
is bound to fulfill" the Pontiff
said.
THE service does not stand
as the corrective or the COM
plement Of what other insti-
tutions ought to do, or have
appropriated to themselves, but
it Is an essential and fireplace
able element Of the design of
Providence to place man upon
the path Of truth. Truth and
liberty are the building stones
upon which human civilization
is raised"
The Pontiff, wearing glasses
and at times stressing his
words with gestures, sat at a
desk in his rariuatn .lihraru He