THE LATE POPE.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 January 1922, Page 4

THE LATE POPE.

Although the Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church has for the last half century ceased to exercise that temporal sovereignty which for many ages was possessed by the Roman Pontiffs over the central portion of Italy., yet, as the head of his church, he held spiritual sway and guidance over more than three hundred million people distributed over the world. It is obvious that the Pope, by virtue of his high office, can exercise a world-wide influence in religious and moral spheres, so that as a factor in the uplifting of humanity he commands a recognition and veneration that is unique. It was the lot of Benedict XV. to preside over the affairs of the Roman Catholic Church during a period when the grim of the greatest war in history—and its aftermath —shook the nations to their very foundations, and to the utmost of his ability and power he strove for the advent of a peace that would again bring the belligerent nations together in amity, besides raising a humanitarian plea for the elimination of barbarous practices in warfare. Both by example and precept His Holiness inculcated a piety that extended into social and industrial life as well as in the observance of religious duties, thus helping to create a spirit of true Christian brotherhood. The Church of Rome has, by the death of Benedict XV., suffered the loss of a wise and thoughtful ruler who steered clear of many dangerous and difficult problems. Possibly there may Lbe some who think that there were occasions when he might have taken a more decided line of action where his fiat would have commanded attention, but his motives were never open to question. He filled his exalted position with conspicuous success, and it is to be hoped that the choice of a successor will be equally happy.