POPE AND ROYALTY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 December 1939, Page 6

POPE AND ROYALTY

VISIT TO KING OF ITALY HAPPY RELATIONS OF CHURCH AND STATE. — DREAM OF MUSSOLINI ERA REALISED. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) ROME. December 28. After an hour's talk, during which’ the Pope met members of the Royal family and other dignitaries, his Holiness returned to the Vatican, large crowds cheering him enthusiastically. The Pope's address to their Majesties is described as "of the warmest,, character and most important." The King replied cordially. His Holiness in his speech said that the visit to their Majesties resealed the happy concord of church and stale. He invoked the divine protection of the Royal family, and hoped that the peace which Italy's rulers were safeguarding, and which was making Italy greater and more respected throughout the world, would be a stimulus to new understanding among the peoples at present engaged in war. A durable peace would be sought vainly outside of Royal ways, justice and Christian charity. The Press hails the visit as "a realisation of the dream of the Mussolini era." Signor Mussolini will visit the Pope from January 4. Well-informed ecclesiastical circles believe that his Holiness will personally return the visit.