POPE’S APPEAL

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1932, Page 5

POPE’S APPEAL

OfO WORLD BROADCAST INIQUITY AND RELICION. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) ROME, December 24. To-day, His Holiness the Pope, broad Oast a message to the world. Tiie Pop 3 proclaimed a Holy Year for Catholics from April 2nd, 1933, to April 2nd 1934. The Holy Year will be in celebration of the nineteenth centenary of the death of Christ. In his address, the Pope,emphasised the inquitous treatment of religion and of the faithful in Spain, in Russia and in Mexico, and he said that equally grievous were the diffei dices existing among the nations. ' The Pope stated that the errors of war and of civil war were rendering the financal and economic crisis worse but a consolation was the triumphant success of the recent Eucharistic Congress.

The Pop© appealed for devotion in the matters of high spirituality and in the interest of the world during the Holy Year.

AN INSPIRATION RECEIVED,

ROME, \ December 26. The Pope’s, decision to proclaim a Holy Year was reached on December 21. He had,previously decided against the eelebratton, "owing to the dispute whether 1933 or 1934 was the nineteenth centenary of the crucifiixon; although the majority of “learned men’’ agreed it wa's 1933. 'Father Gianfranceschi, Director of the Vatican wireless station, - asked the Pope on December 18, whether lie desired his Christmas message to be broadcast. His Holiness replied in the negative but summoned Father Gianfi'anceschi on December 22, and announced that while saying Mass on December 21, lie received an inspiration to proclaim a Ploly Year. Accordingly, his speech must be broadcast to ensuro the widest publicity. The Pone will announce fuller details of the arrangements in the New Year. Meanwhile, inquiries of hotel acommodation has begun. Between 200 and 300 thousand pilgrims are expected to visit Rome.