THE POPE’S VIEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 October 1919, Page 2

THE POPE’S VIEWS.

(uy Eieclr.c leiegrupn —Co'jyiight./ J AUSTfiALIAN &, N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION]

AN INTERVIEW. LONDON, Oct. 20.

Mi- Phillip Gibbs, the we.l-knowu war correspondent has just publisut-d la “Ihe Daily Chronicle” a special copyright interview with the Pope. His Holiness urged that the principles of justice and charity were the only remedy for the world’s industrial unrest. The people he said, must make up their minds to endure the war’s consequences, and must stt-c themselves to suffer.

Those said His Holiness, who have profited out of the war must now pay. The Pope outlined the Holy See’s unceasing charitable works during the war. It transpires that the Pope would have intervened on behalf of Nurse Cavell but for the rapidity and secrecy of her execution.

The Pope made no reference to his atitude towards the responsibility for the war question. He outlined the works of mercy that have ceaselessly been undertaken by the Holy See during the wat. He said that the war was a scourge and the effects thereof were enormous and incalculable. Few had guessed, lie said, that it would last for nearly five years. The Pope said:-L“That long period ,of strife—that terrific scourge will have far reaching results. People must make up their minds to endure the war’s consequences. They must steel 'themselves to suffer. At the same time, we must do everything in our pewor to alleviate the sufferings and ease, the burdens .of those who are least able to support them.” The Pope’s thoughts throughout the interview appeared to be concentrated on the conditions of the working classes. He said that the people had been irritated by their sense of injustice.

He continued: : —“There are many men who have made money out of the war. Those who have thus grown rich will have to pay, and the burden of taxation will doubtless fall heavily on them.”

Tlie Pope mentioned the financial situation in various countries, and he feared there was no quick solution of the economic problems or any immediate prospect of bringing down prices to a normal level.

Referring to the Catholic Church’s efforts to alleviate Europe’s war time agonies, the Pope said“We could do very 'litle in comparison with the enormous suffering caused, but, as far as possible, we took every opportunity of relieving the people’s sorrow by works of charity. We could not do more. It was little, but it did bring comfort fern any poor people—wives, mothers, prisoners ,and wounded—and it also miti gated some of the severities of the military acts. The Pope recalled that it "was the result of the Holy See’s representation that war prisoners were liberated, and exchanged, and the missing soldiers traced.

Tho Pope had sent over a hundred thousand letters to Italian families whose soldiers were either prisoners or missing. He also secured refuge in Switzerland for' the sick and wounded prisoners, especially for consumptives. It was impossible for the Pope to act. in. Nurse Cavell’s case, owing to tlie rapidity and secrecy of*her execution.

(Received This Day at 3 a.m.) LONDON, Oct: 20. The Pope repeated that what his church could do was very little, and only touched the great anguish of the war during the" present unsettled state of the world. The Pope said it is the duty of all men to endeavour to solve post war, social and war problems in a lawful and peaceable way ,so that the burden will be fairly shared with goodwill and charity. He expressed the hope that Leo XlH’s writing on the relation of capital and labour would be popularised. Their teaching was summed up in two wards “Justice and Charity.” The Pope concludedlf men behave justly and with real Christian Charity towards one another, many of the®world’s troubles will- be removed, but without Justice and Charity there will be no social progress.”