POPE’S ADDRESS ENDS EASTER IN ROME

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28259, 23 April 1957, Page 7

POPE’S ADDRESS ENDS EASTER IN ROME

(N&. Press Association—Copyright)

VATICAN CITY, April 20. Acclaimed by a multitude of 300,000 people, including pilgrims, from all over the world, the Pope today appealed to mankind to abandon immoral behaviour and evil habits. In an Easter address to the world, delivered by radio and television from a balcony high on the facade of the vast Basilica of St. Peter, the Pope declared: “Humanity seems like an infected body covered with sores in which the blood moves with difficulty because its members remain divided and individual classes and peoples have no communication with each other. “And when they do not ignore each other, they hate each other; and they conspire and struggle and destroy each other.” Cheers rose as the Pontiff continued: “But even this night in the world shows cigar signs of a dawn that will come, or a new day receiving the kiss of a new and more resplendent sun.” At the end of his 20-minute address, the Pope—a frail figure in white—welcomed briefly in English, French, German, and Spanish more than 100,000 foreign pilgrims gathered in the huge crowd below him. Complete silence fell as the crowd knelt and the Pope chanted the solemn Latin phrases of the blessing, “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City and the World). The Pope listed the peaceful uses to which nuclear discoveries are being put, and said: “Man thus becomes ever more master of his works, and sees his labour endowed with an improved quality and skill. “Nevertheless,” he added, “all this is still night—night indeed full of groaning and hope, but night, i “Night which could also, even unexpectedly, become engulfed in a storm, if occasional flashes of lightning should appear and the crack of thunder be heard.” “Night of the World” The Pope went on: “Many are already beginning tc perceive—and admit it—that this night of the world had come aboul because Christ has been arrested because they wish to exclude Him from family, cultural and' social life, because the people have riser up against Him, because He has been crucified, and rendered voiceless and motionless. “And there are a great numbei of souls, courageous and eager aware that such a death anc burial of Christ was possible onlj because among His friends wai found one who denied and be - trayed Him: and there were man: . who fled in confusion before th< 1 threats of His enemies. B “These souls are’ aware tha timely, harmonious and organisec - action will change the face of th< s earth, bringing to it renewal anc improvement. “A new resurrection of Jesus i: r necessary, a true resurrectioi 1 which admits no more the lordshij of death. “In individuals, Christ must de stroy the night of mortal sin witl the dawn of grace regained. 1 “In families, the night of in f difference and coolness must giv< 1 way to the sun of love. “In workshops, in cities, ii

nations, in lends of misunderstanding and hatred the night must grow bright as the day: and strife will cease and there will be peace. •‘Confused and Anxious” “We have several times drawn attention to the fact that men of every nation and every continent, have been forced to live, confused and anxious, in a topsy turvy world. “Everything has become relative and provisional because efficiency and hence effectiveness, are lacking. “Error, in well-nigh countless forms, has made slaves of the intellects of men for aH their great gifts, and immoral behaviour in every form has reached a stage of precociousness, of impudence and of.universality such as to cause grave concdfti to those who care for the fate of the world.” The Pope, who is 81, delivered his address in Italian in a firm and clear voice. A tumult of cheers broke out again as the Pope waved goodbye from the balcony and flights of white doves, liberated from cages, rose and circled the baailica. Glass windscreens protected the Pope as he appeared on the balcony for the ceremony which ; marks the climax of Easter in Rome. A company of the Pope’s Palatine Guard with their band, in i dark blue 19th Century uniforms with shakos and muskets, and two • platoons of the Swiss bodyguard. ; in their 16th Century uniforms of I slashed blue, red and yellow, with medieval peaked steel helmets and I seven-foot pikes, were drawn up I along the facade of the basilica, t There were also detachments of the Papal Noble Guard in their i red jackets, white breeches and i black jackboots, with swords, and f of the Papal Gendarmerie.