A GREAT DIPLOMAT

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20728, 11 February 1939, Page 9

A GREAT DIPLOMAT

MANY OONCORDATB CONCLUDED Pope Pius XI. would have been 82 years of age on May 31, and, like the Nestor of Homeric fame, he may be described as “having lived through three generations,” said an article In the Irish Standard on the oocasion of the Pope’s 79 th birthday. That in itself is remarkable. But it means very little in our appreciation of Pope Pius. lie has lived through three generations, but the important point is that he has enobled each one oi them. Physical perfection, is admirable: so is active help given to the development of arts and sciences: so, above all, is co-operation with ttod's grace in raising the nations of world to an appreciation of the ideals which the most gifted men have suggested and which the Redeemer died to secure. In the different stages of his life, Pope Pius has emphasised each—in due accordance with the position ho occupied, and so has left an example that will guide humanity for ever. An Athletlo Ecclesiastic. As a young man, the Holy Father was an athlete. Mountain-climbing, except in the minor form we see in these islands, is a high test of strength and nerve and courage and endurance. Achllle Ratti was one of its foremost exponents. In the days when neither he nor any of his friends dreamt of the higher destinies in store, he led strong men on many a hazardous adventure. He carved his way through a perilous pass that had never before been attempted. And through one long night he sat, on a peak of Mount Rosa, contemplating a slumbering Europe, a fitting phototype of the days when he would guide a world-wide empire, and, lroin the heights of the Vatican, rouse a slumbering world to its greatest efforts in the dawn. In those days he was in charge of i'ae Ambrosian Library ih Milan, and he learned the lessons of practical administration that help the idealist in his work. He was an enthusiast for art and science, but he kept in Closo touch with the modern developments that seem to impose limitations Aa a proof, may I mention that he came and lived in Manchester—" Cottonopilis,” as some of its admirers Uked to describe it in those days. He saw science and industry there at their best. And, when in his Encyclicals he spoke of the “ Manchester School,” he was not talking as a theoretical economist—he was speak ing of a theory that he had, personally, seen developing into its practical results. Later, he w r as summoned back to Rome, and sent on a mission to Poland. The question was not now one of industrial disputes—it was one of revolution in an extreme form. The Soviet forces, relying on their victory in 1917, took it for granted that Poland would submit. Poland did not submit. The panic, however, led to the retirement of most of the Ministers who claimed to represent Christianity. But there were some glorious exceptions. And the chief exception was—Achille Ratti. Elected Pope. In recognition of the things he had accomplished, he was summoned back to his native country, and was created a Cardinal and appointed Archbishop of Milan. His tenure of the Lombard See was short—exactly 150 days. Pope Benedict XV died. The Cardinals were summoned to a Conclave. And, ln February, 1922, Archille Ratti was elected as successor of St. Peter and the Ruler of the Kingdom of Christ. In the higher sphere the Pope has not forgotten the ideals that his earlier activities suggested. In his replies to pilgrims from the Alps he has recalled the exploits of the past and given his blessing to athletes of their type—and one may be excused for suspecting an underlying wish that he could come back again from Rome and head an expedition to the heights that Inspired him in his boyhood. The artistic and scientific ideals remain in the best way that can be suggested as a test—in the domain of practical endeavour. He has promoted the Pontifical Academy of Science: he Das erected, and made personal use of, the Vatican City radio station: he has restored the Papal Villa at Castelgandolfo and made it a new centre for the Vatican Observatory: he has constructed the new Vatican Art Gallery, and his re-equipment and recataloguing of the famous Vatican Library is Just one of the things for which scientists and artists will be anxious to pay him their tributes for many centuries to come. But, ih the higher sphere, there were many more important things to he considered. No human being can he worthy of the exalted position he holds: hut, so far as a human being can. he has shown himself the “faithful servant" of the Gospel, who was given five talents and won five more. The programme he had to face may be described under three headings: (1) Personal contacts with the nations under his control. 2). Direction on the main problems that concerned all nations (3). Promotion of Christ’s spirit within the Church and its extension to pagan nations. In all three his influence is felt in every portion of the Catholic world. The Concordats. As for the first, we may instance t.he Concordats he has concluded with various countries. The Laferan Treaty, marking the settlement of the “Roman Question” (February It. 1929 . makes the greatest appeal to the public. Rut there have been many others—the Concordats with Latvia 1922), Bavaria (1*924), Poland (1925). Lithuania (1927), Roumania and Prussia (19291, Baden 1932 . Germany 19.93 , Austria# (1934), and with .Tugo-Slavia (1935). In addition to these, two conventions with France (1926), two with Portugal (1928-29). with Roumania (1932). and a modus vivendt with Czecho-Slovakia '1928). Readers will pardon the enumeration. It is tiresome. But It gives an of the marlfold activities of Pius XI in this single department. In the third category we may classify his many labours forthe disciplinary and scientific government of the Church, his establishment of new ecclesiastical provinces, his foundation of new colleges in Rome, and of many seminaries throughout Ilalv. Catholics will recall with special pleasure that, in the darkest days of the

Soviet. he organised relief expeditions to suffering Russia. They will remember. too, that the policy of “Catholic Action,” indicated by his predecessors, has been given in detail by the present Pope, especially in the concluding sections of the Quadragesimo Anno. They will admit his claim to be called in a special wiry 4 The Hope of the Missions. ” And they will not forget that in spite of all the historical lime for the canonisation of many of the best-loved saints of the Catholic Church.