The Pope and World's Peace

New Zealand Tablet, 17 November 1921, Page 33

The Pope and World's Peace

A remarkable speech setting forth tho need of cultivating the good graces of the Holy See, if the League of Nations wished to do effective work in tho cause of peace, has been delivered during'the meetings of the League at Geneva by a representative of Belgium, Senator Keesen (says the Catholic Times, London, for September 24). He dwelt on the need of the Holy Father's aid felt by the different nations. War was a costly game, and if in ten years Belgium were engaged in a fresh war she would become bankrupt. Let them not cherish illusions. Germany contemplated reconquest. Before the lapse of ten years she would have an army stronger than she had in 1914, in spite of the Treaty of Versailles. When there would be a rent in the western "block" she would enter on a campaign all tho fiercer owing to tho recollection of her defeat. The best way to avoid the danger would be to form an alliance between England and France, upon which they could not count-, and to strengthen the League of Nations, which was at present as weak as a silk thread that might be broken at any moment. If the Pope had been admitted to the League of Nations, of what advantage his services would be! His power was recognised by the majority of the Protestant and schismatic nations. England, Holland, Prussia, Switzerland, Russia, Finland, and the Ukraine made or renewed diplomatic .relations with the Vatican. In doing so they were not influenced by religious motives. If tho French Ambassador resumed his position at the Vatican it was because France considered the Pope the great arbiter of the world's peace. The Pope was excluded fronjL-tho League of Nations so that the susceptibilities of Italy might not be hurt, but was not the selection of a Catholic for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Italy a sign that the Quirinal was about to approach the Vatican? The people of the world were more and more convinced that the Pope was the personage designed by God to be the soul and the inspiration of the peace movement.