THE PAPAL DELEGATE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2672, 19 January 1916, Page 7

THE PAPAL DELEGATE

PUBLIC WELCOME 1 < » i FROM CLERGY & PEOPLE \ i His Excellency Archbishop Cerretti ! will visit the monastery of the Redenip- ' torist leathers, Hawker Street, this af- ] ternoou. At 7.30 p.m. His Excellency 1 will preside at the devotions in St. Gor- i ard's Church, when-lie will impart tho i Papal Blessing and give Benediction of < the Most Blessed Sacrament, 'v 1 A crowd of upwards of 2500 people ' gathered in the Town. Hall last night ' to welcome His Excellency the Most < Reverend Monsignor Cerretti, Arch- ; bishop of Corinth, -and Delegate Apostolic to Australasia. Tho audience was i fully representative of Roman Catholics in the city and district. All the Catholic Hierarchy of New Zealand were present, and also most of the clergy of the aroh-diocese. On the civil 6ide the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward and the Hon. Arthur Myers represented the Government, and there ttere also present the Mayor of Wellington (Mir. J. P. Luke), and a number of the Consuls accredited in Wellington. Mr. J. J. L. Burke, president of tho Roman Catholic Federation, was in the chair. A guard of honour was -provided for His Excellency by the Hibernians of Wellington. The first part of the programme was musical purely, opening with the National Anthem by the choir and the assemblage. The combined choirs of the city, under the conductorship of Mr. E. J. Healy, sang "Ecce Sacerdos Magnus." Miss Teresa M'Enroe sang "1 Will Extoll Thee" (Costa) with exquisite taste—a really artistic performance —and in response to an encore, "Believe Me if All Those Endearing Yoirng Charms." Miss Morrison, of Blenheim, sang "The Three Fishers," and she also had to respond to an emphatic encore. Mr. Bernard Page played an organ solo, and also played all the accompaniments. The chairman extended to the Apostolic delegate a welcome from the laity of New Zealand, and especially from the laity of the Arch Diocese of Wellington, Mr, Burke announced that he had received apologies from the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey), Sir Francis Bell, General ■ Henderson, and others. Welcome From the Clergy. His Grace Archbishop Redwood extended a very cordial wolcome, elegantly phrased, to His Excellency. He also presented to Ilis Excellency Archbishop Cerretti the following address from the Hierarchy of New Zealand: — ! "To His Excellei.cy the Most Reverend Monsignor Cerretti, Archbishop of Corinth and Delegate Apostolic to Aus*tralasia, — "May it please Your Excellency, .In our own name, and on behalf of the Catholio clergy and laity of the Dominion of New Zealand, we bid Your Excellency a cordial welcome to our shores. We welcome you for your own established work and worth. With a ■most particular affection we welco ue •on as the representative in jthess ; southern lands of tho Supreme Pontiff, i who through you wishes to come into ' closer touch with our religious life, i with our i;)intuai labouis, trials, dani gers,. hopes, and fearu, Your Excel- ■ lency's personal gifts and qualities have ; already tvoii' '.or y-u in other lands a 11 high place m the estetm of men. We i prav that in the higher and more ) sponsible position to whioi you have s been -Allied, God's fruitful and abiding s blessing wi'l make these endowments s the instruments of a fresh impetus lo religion, and bring otu hearts' nearer to tli» pulsing ctutre of our faith on earth, and thereby neaiT to the Heavcmly centre in ths Sacred Heart of our ® Divine Lord.

Witn mucn respect; auu we .subscribe ourselves Tour Excellency's faithful servants in; Christ,— "(Signed) Francis Redwood, Archbishop of Wellington; Michael Verdon, Bishop of Dunedin; Henry W. ..Clearv, Bishop of Auckland; Matthew' W. Brod'e,- Bishop-elect of Christchurch; Thomas O'Shea, Coadjutor Archbishop of Wellington " An address from the Roman Catholic laity of the arch-diocese was presented by Mr. . J. J. L. Bnrlco, and another address from the Hibernian Society • ivas presented by Mr. P. D. Hoskins. _ Speeches of -welcome were delivered by the visiting bishops—Bishop Verdon, of Dunedin; Bishop deary ( of Auckland; and Monsignor Brodie, Bishopdect of 'Christchurch. From ths Civil Power. Sir Joseph Ward, representing the Government, also tendered a very cordial and hearty -welcome to the Apostolic Delegate, and expressed a hope that his ' visit to New Zealand would be a very happy and pleasant one. He hoped there would be no end to • the war until peace could be assured for a generation or two at least—(applause)—the Sovereign Pontiff of whom His Excellency was representative would discharge most important functions, and, if for no other reasons, it was well for this reason that the Apostolic Delegate should vieit New Zealand. (Applause.) Archbishop Cerrettl's Reply. His Excellencv was cheered most .heartily when ho rose to reply. "For

ome time past," he said, "I have been nxious' to visit New Zealand because t is part of tho territory entrusted to ho Apostolio Delegation of Australia, and I am pleased that at last my lesiro has been realised. Other moives, too, urged me to make the trip; lie political and social lifo of the country, which differs in many respccts roni that of tho Old World, the naiural attractions of the Dominion and ts beautiful climate, the proverbial lospitality of its large-hearted people— ;hese aJid other considerations combined io induce me to visit New Zealand as •con as my duties would permit nio to lo so. I have como first to the capi:al. Wellington, to present my respects :o the Metropolitan, the revered Archjisliop Redwood, and to his worthy Coidjutor. Your Archbishop was known w me before I came to these shwes— [ had heard in America of his mental ?fts and of the great work that had in the portion of tlio Lord's vineyard over which he has ruled for many years. While presentihg my compliments to His Grace, I wish to congratulato him on tho consoling results of missionary effort that are evident throughout Hie country— results that much prove beneficial to Church and State alike. „ "The Society of Mary, which numlfers among its most illustrious' members His Grace and tho Coadjutor Archbishop, figures prominently in the early ecclesiastical life of these young lands; and the record of the zeal and self-sacrifice of the ""early Marist Fathers forms one of the brightest pages in tio hist<!fy of the Catholio Church in Australasia. The history of the Society furnishes us with, a fresh proof that the tree planted centuries ago, tho Church of Jesus Christ, is constantly giving forth new branches full of life and vigour. I gladly avail myself of this opportunity of expressing publicly my appreciation of the work done by the Marist Fathers in this country, especially by the pioneer members of the Society and by tho zealous members of the secular clergy. That the seed of faith sown by them has taken dßep root is shown by the progress the Church has made heTc, and by the warm welcome jou have extended to me as the representative of the Holy Father. This cordial greeting recalls to my mind the splendid re. lept-ions given me in the various States of the Commonwealth of Australia, and, like them, speaks eloquently of devoted attachment to the Afcar of Jesus Christ. In His name I thank you most sincerely.' The Papacy. "After a lapse of nineteen Centuries the Papacy is to-day a vast moral forcc —so ' vast and so widely acknowledgec that in the present world struggle al. parties are striving to havo it on thei) side.' Tho Pope, however, being the Common Father, cannot ally hlmsell

with any; particular nation, and consequently must observe the strictest neutrality. Only prejudice and passion can read into his utterances and action's anything of a partisan nature. "Providence has raised to the Chair of Peter in these troubled times a man eminently fitted to deal with the present critical situation. Tho efforts of Pope Benedict XV to restore jieaco based on justice among the nations, and his successful work ■ in alleviating the sufferings of wounded soldiers and prisoners command the grateful admiration of the entire world. In the hour of trial children are more closely united with their father; iu this liour of the world's distress and, desolation you Catholic children are drawn by stronger ties of affection, to our Common. Father, the Vicar of Christ. You may fest assured that this demonstration of your filial devotion will be to tho Holy Father a source of consolation in the midst of hia many sorrows.

The Spirit of Unity. "I am very pleased to see on this occasion the suffragan "bishops surrounding their Metropolitan; this shows that the Catholic Hierarchy of the Dominion is cor- unum et anima una (one in heart and mind). Tho sentiments expressed in your addresses are worthy of the tradition of the New Zealand Episcopate, which yields to none in its loyalty to tho Holy See. In an especial manner I thank you' all for your expressions of regard towards personally, sentiments which I cordially reciprocate. I rejoice to know that the same spirit of unity and mutual esteem which animates the members of tho Hierarchy, exists between the clergy and laity. This is shown by the addresses presented to me; and' to this triple union, of hearts of bishops, priests, and laity is due, under God, the wonderful progress of the faith in this Dominion. "I desire to acknowledge my indebtedness to the Government of this country, which is represented here to-nighi by Sir Joseph Ward. To the civic authorities and the Harbour Board also I tender my cordial thanks. It is indeed a happy omen to note the harmonious relations that exist in these countries between religion on the one side, and constituted authorities, civic and national, on the other. "In conclusion, I wish to express again my deep appreciation of the splendid reception yon have extended to me, and in return I pray God to bless abundantly this fair land and its people." The ceremonies concluded with tho singing of the hymn "Faith of Our Fathers."