Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 February 1939 — Page 8

Carved Place as True ‘Head of Universal

Church,” Writes the

Kelley in Article on Pontiff.

Bishop Francis C. Kelley of Oklahoma City, one of ‘this country’s most eminent Catholic writers, here tells a personal story of Pope Pius XI. The bishop is the author of 10 books. He founded the

Catholic Extension Society in the

was editor-in-chief of the Extension Magazine. He was born on Prince Edward Island, received his LL. D., at Notre Dame University, and his Ph: D., at the University of Louvain in Belgium. He is accredited with having made the initial diplomatic contacts which led to the treaty "between Italy and the Vatican in Rome,

BY THE MOST REV. FRANCIS C. KELLEY, D. D. OKLAHOMA CITY, Feb. 10.—One morning after saying | mass in Westminster Cathedral, I was requested to sign my

name to the visitors’ register

said mass in the same cathedral a number of times before I was curious enough to turn back the pages to find my earlier signature. I found it and another. The other was that of ‘Achille Ratti who gave his London address as the St. Ermin’s

Hotel. I asked the sacristan

was. He smiled and answered, “Of course. He'is the pres-

ent Pope.”

1 stretched my memory back to the time when I, too, had been stopping at the Sf.’Ermin’s Hotel and came to the con-

clusion that it was a lot more

Father Achille Ratti there; though I could not remember

him in particular among the clergymen I had noticed in the

the particular time when I saw the name of Father Ratti on the register, I was the guest of the late Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster. At dinner that evening I referred to the

fact of the Pope’s name being Eminence if he knew why h

cardinal told me that Father Ratti had come to look up reeords in the British. Museum and to study the libraries.

IN REIGN, S. BISHOP

Most Rev. Francis C.

United States and for many years

kept in the sacristy. Having if he knew who Achille Ratti

than probable that I had seen

many Catholic and Anglican office and the dining room. At

on the register and asked His e had been in London. The

Such ‘a mission would be in®

full accord with the special work of the priest at that ‘time. He was a librarian; first of the Ambrosian at Milan and later of the Vatican. He had no pastoral charge and was not in the diplomatic career. If he had any partic-

ular ecclesiastic distinction

while librarian it was merely an honorary one such as hundreds of American priests have received. His position, important as it was, kept him between book shelves. His vacations were taken in the mountains and through them he became famous as a mountain climber: but like the job of librarjan, the vocation of mountain climbing is one of saline _ Achille Ratti was ordairled priest in 1879, but it was not until 1018 that he was called by the Pope and given a diplomatist’s work; which means that he did not come out of solitude for 39 years. When he did emerge as Apostolic Nuncio to Poland, the fact was somewhat of a wonder in Rome.

How He Was Chosen

Cardinal Cerretti told me one day how it happened. Benedict XV was looking for the right man to send to that charge, but the “right men” in sight were already in imant posts. posta Pope knew that he would have to look outside the diplomatic career. Cardinal Cerretti was at that time secretary for extraordinary affairs in the department of state. The talents and virtues of the man wanted he fitted to the librarfan of the Vatican who had a knowledge of languages and, through his attachment to books, * extraordinary acquaintanceship with the nations from which these books same. Though few knew Achille Ratti well, Monsignor Cerretti, not then a cardinal, had learned that he had qualities which had long remained unnoticed. He suggested his name for the mission to Poland. The librarian was pulled out of his obsecurity. ; Then 60 Years of Age ]

He was then 60 years old, and as stated, 39 years a priest. Two years later he was the Cardinal-Arch-bishop of Milan. Less than seven months later, the solitary of the books and the mountains was elected Pope. It would appear as if Divine Providence had been giving & long course of training to one destined to be a great Pope. The church at that time needed the kind of man Achille Ratti was. The predecessor of Pius XI was Benedict XV. His predecessor was the Pius X, who had tried so hard to gvert the Great War and was popularly supposed to have died heart-broken because he had failed in the task. The burden thrown on Benedict XV had been a heavy one. The position of the Vatican, simple enough, was certain to be misunderstood by the fighting nations. Intervention, even in words, meant a study of the case and a judgment on the issues. But none of the nations involved had admitted before the war that it was the Holy See’s right to try such a case and judge it. Benedict XV found himself in the difficult position of being importuned to revive a situation which no longer existed, and revive it not by invasion of the nations themselves, but by their propagandists. If he attempted to do such a thing and actually made a pronouncement it would be accepted by only one side and would haye brought no peace. “The facts were diplomatically pointed out but the diplomats were -4n the trenches, too, and not inclined to use their reason. The Pope simply followed the policy of Pius X in urging peace; but also did the _ practical work of trying to alleviate the misery consequent to the war.

“Much Work Done in Poland A greatic of this work was ‘done in Russia and Poland. Archbishop Ratti had been in the very of it. He had come to know

Slavs well. He had the knowl-

needed in the Pope of peace. The other cardinals saw that. They elected him. Pius XI not only continued the work of Benedict XV but enlarged it, especially in Russia; and charity, though badly battered by war, nevertheless lived through its hatreds, America was the chief support of the charities of Pius XI in Russia. For that reason, perhaps, and certainly because an American director would be more welcome than one of any other nationality, Pius XI placed his Russian work in the hands of an American priest. He selected Father Edmund Walsh, now dean of the school of foreign service at Georgetown University in Washington, to carry on in Russia. The position of Father Walsh was one of tremendous. difficulty. He lived in Russia while the war against religion was going on.

Always Began Work Early

To all appearances there seemed to be nothing of the:librarian left in Pius XI. He had little chance to continue in the solitude he hac grown to love. Every minute of his day was alloted and most of the allotments were for audiences. He always began his morning by saying mass after a preparation of meditation and prayér. Even during the light breakfast he had to be at work; but as early ds 9 in the morning always found him in the same chair in the room occupied by his predecessors, receiving. No one, Catholic or Protestant, with proper credentials, is as a rule refused an audience. Pius XI met many people and enjoyed it. He would tire himself out receiving, for he did most of the talking.

Given 50-Minute Audience

My own first audience with Pius XI, a year or so after his election, was supposed to be for 20 minutes. It was the Pope himself who made it 50. He had never been in America but there was always an American during his reign attached to the department of state. There is one now. Pius XI liked Americans, In my last audience with him he seemed to know as much about America as I did myself.

The librarian Pope had not been a great producer of books during the 39 years of his solitude. He lived with books but did not make them, He wrote a great deal, of course, but mostly essays and perhaps a few historical monographs. I confess Ido not know because a librarian’s writings would be on highly specialized topics far out of my line of interest. He did write a book on mountain climbing, on which he was an authority. : If the special articles came out of his library solitude the book came out of his mountain solitude. But when he became Pope he wrote a series of letters to the whole world that will be as great when centuries have passed as they are today. He had the happy thought of reviving interest in the encyclical letter of Leo XIII on the “Condition of Labor” to throw the light back on that remarkable document. But in the act of doing that he brought the ideas of Leo down to date and gave ine world 8 new direction and counsel on e most tal. questio agitating the os aL J i on cyclicals should then be read together. :

Social Justice His Dream

It has been said that if the advice of Pius XI had been taken by the nations, many of their troubles would have been settled without the need of recourse to arms. ial justice was one of the drea of Pius XI. : Pius XI was the father of what we call Catholic Action. Basically, Catholic Action is the co-operation in labor for Christ of laity and clergy under the direction of their bishops. The idea of Pius XI was to keep the responsibility in the successors of the Apostles, but make the action as wide as the sacrament of baptism. Bs Under Benedict XV there had been a new interest in missions, but Benedict died before his plans were put into action. Pius XI took them up and became the real pope of the missions. He reorganized the Catholic missions of the world. Pius XI encouraged not only collecting agencies for missions everywhere but also the recruiting of workers. He cut away missionary

XI In every sense was the head the Universal Church. :

Oklahoma City.

Pope Pius XI is shown. here in his favorite photograph. Pius XI declared this the official photogragph of his papacy and gave autographed copies to visiting dignitaries of the church. The / Pontiff was very reticent about giving his autograph and these pictures bear most of the available signatures. The official signature is shown here as it appears on the photograph. This pic- - ture was given to Bishop Francis C. Kelley of

-| the Lombard College in Rome.

{took his degrees in canon law,

institution in Milan, - This was the lela. During this period of his life,

. |the:works in the library under his i | charge.

HEN

v Won Early Note as Elected Pope

Pope Pius XI was born at

Ackille.

as the Eighteenth Century.

Don Damian Ratti. Achille Ratti showed an an early age. When barely

bound to gravitate to Rome, and he became a student in

Achille Ratti also frequented the Gregorian University and

theology and philospohy. He was ordained priest on Dec. 20, 1879, and said his first mass the following day in St. Charles on the Corso in Rome.

First Appointment

He received his first appointment as doctor in the Ambrosian Livrary of Milan of which instityte he was later to become prefect. He passed a great many years carrying out his duties as assistart librarian and later prefect. From 1882 to 1013, Monsignor ttl’ was chaplain of a monastic

ccnvent of Our Lady of the Cena-

hoe started a catechism class for work 4 children in Milan, made up chiefly of little Milanese chimney-sweeps. ‘Monsignor Ratti did an immense amount of work at the Ambrosian Library in examining codexes, cataloguing volumes and writing learned treaties, especially about

Vatican Librarian

‘Monsignor Ratti succeeded Cardinal Francis Ehrle as prefect of the Vatican Library in- 1914, just

American missionary orders so that, when we list the American bishops today, quite a number are found to have their residences. in mission fields. My personal opinion is that the greatest work of Pius XI was his work for missions. I say the greatest because it was the most farreaching and is destined to be the most permanent.

Influence Felt Throughout World Pius XI was 1 as well

practica as spiritual. As for nearly 40 years he had been a man of many books, 50 as Pope he was a man of many interests. His influence in church government was felt in the smallest parish, His instructions were defi-

Through his delegates in differ-

ent countries he brought about greater unity of action than the church had had in centuries. codified the canon law and reorganized the universities, especially those in Rome. To do that he selected or had selected leaders from different parts of the world and brought them to Rome.

The head of the great Gregorian

University, for example, for the first time in history is an American. The superior general of one of the two great branches of t der I knew in Chicago. The superior general of the great missionary. or-

Carmelite or-

der called the Oblates, which has

mission fields all over the world,’ is 24 old friend from San Antonio, ex.

With the practical aid and coun-

sel of an - American cardinal-

archbishop arose the new buildings of the College of Propaganda. Pius of

‘The historian will, of course, place Pius XI as the Pope of the great conciliation, because,it was not only during his reign that the Roman

question was settled, but because the

terms of the Lateran Treaty were all his own. In one respect at least

these terms were astonishing.

Terms Pope a Statesman

It is quite true that the Roman question might have been settled earlier, but Pius XI was a statesman

and he knew that too early a settlement might not be a permanent one.

Under Benedict XV, the Italian Government had wanted to make a settlement, as was shown by the article of former Prime Minister Orlando in The Saturday Evening Post. As it was through me that Premier Orlando e his approach to the Vatican, and as it was with me he

had held the first conference on the

subject, I knew the terms of the

settlement then proposed. There

was a weakness in it which time brought out, namely, that while it was a move on the part of a state,

nevertheless the government of that state represented a

arty destined to fall from power. True, at that time it seemed as if the Liberals, who had been in power in some form or other since 1870 were supreme. But there were other

parties in sight. No one, of course,

then dreamed of the rise of fascism.

Had Italy not been treated badly at

Versailles, Orlando would not have fallen from power and his settlement would have gone through. But he did fall before the treaty was consuma ted. ~ Let Mussolini Move First During the intervening: years the Orlando settlement might fr been ted as so many other acts and policies of the Liberals were re-

» of world conditions, the symthe learning and the piety

fields long occupied by other naonalities and handed them over to

ment §

World Leaders Mourn Head of Church,

Praise Him as ‘Great, Serene, Bold’

: By Unifed Press World leaders today expressed

deep sorrow over the death of His|| Holiness, Pope Pius XI. Some of|{}

their comments follow: ’ :

POSTMASTER GENERAL FAR-|

LEY—The world has lost. a leader whose spiritual influence will exist

long after most of us are forgotten.|

His earnest efforts to promote world peace . . . made him respected by men of all political and religious faiths. . . . From my visit with him I learned how intensely interested he was in the affairs of this tountry . . . and in democratic governmen{ (everywhere), [i

THE RT. REV. MSGR. MICHAEL J. READY (General Secretary of the National Catholic Welfare Conference)—Monuments of affection for Pius XI are marked in every diocese of the United States. . . . Amidst the strife and bitterness of the world, he stood imperturbable and serene, preaching peace and justice and charity, . . .

BISHOP WILLIAM D. O'BRIEN (Chicago)——One of the greatest Popes in history has passed away. He was famous for many concordats with the various states that brought better relations with the church. " RABBI LOUIS L. MANN (Chicago)—. .. . He loved his fellowmen and dared to defy the dictators, MAYOR EDWARD J. KELLY (Chicago)—A great churchman and humanitarian has passed away. I'm sure Chicago and the rest of ‘the Worl will join in prayer for his SO v 4 - MICHAEL J. HOWLETTE (Supreme director and state deputy of the Knights of Columbus, Chicago) —One of the truly great men of the century has passed away. THE RT. REV. MSGR. WILLIAM R. ARNOLD (Chief of chaplains, U. S. Army— . . . Filled with the spirit of God and the distilled wisdom of the ages, he declared: with charity, certainty and authority the eternal prineiples of religious unity, marriage and home life, education of youth and a sound social order. GOVERNOR SALTONSTALL (Massachusetts) — His death was a tremendous loss to the peace and happiness of ‘all the world. ; i THE RT. REV. HENRY KNOW

great leader and humanity has lost a much-needed world stabilizer.

| unceasingly

Priest at 20

By United Press . Pius XI was the two hundre and sixty-first Pope. He was born at Deslo, May 31, 1857. :

. The pontiff was ordained a priest when he was 20. His appointment as an archbishop came in 1919, . On June 13, 1921, he was made a cardinal and less than nine months later, Feb. 6, 1922, was elected pope. ; } Pius XI was crowned Feb. 12, { 1922, He died Feb. 10, 1939. : He was known popularly as the “Missionary Pope.”

his strength for peace in this world « «+ » and I know that I and all the people in the world will miss forces which he was trying to express. I feel confident that what he had in mind will be carried on. THE REV. D. DE SOLA POOL (president of the Synagog Council of America)—Fearless spokesman of the truth, passionate advocate of peace, constant pleader for and exemplar of the universal brotherhood of man, ardent exponent of social justice and, human rights, he diffused the benison of his religious spirit far beyond the membership of the great church of which he was so distinguished a head. ALFRED E. SMITH—He. will go down in history as one of the world’s truly great men. We are losing, him at a time when we need him most. i ; THE REV. ROBERT I. GANNON (president -of Fordham University) —His Holiness was a martyr to the cause of liberty. . ( . May God grant the world another Pope equally strong and Christ-like. MAYOR 8S. DAVIS WILSON (Philadelphia)—His death could have come at no more critical period nor at a time when his altruistic

| principles and the great force and

prestige of his words were more sorely needed. THE VERY REV. THOMAS J. HIGGINS, 8. J. (president of St. Joseph's. College, Philadelphia)—A Fo

t the ‘battles of the church without malice. VINCENT

" MAYOR LA GUARDIA (New|SW York City)—He was exercising all|T8!

have lasted only & few years and| ‘Ty

been scrapped. During most o 10° years Pius XI was Pope. statesmanlike vision saw made no move to follow up | T= lando proposals. - He knew that time was with the church and he was well aware of the fact that the early antagonistic policies of fascism could not last in Italy. He allowed

lini to make the first move,

pudiated. Had the Orlando settle-|

and of

a world that

Church of England Head Sorrow

we Expresses

LONDON, Feb. 10 (U. P.)—The

the Church of England, was one of the first prominent Britons to express publicly his grief today over the death of His Holiness, Pope Pius XI. ; “He was a man of wide learning and sincerest, ardent piety, who bore the immense burden of his great office with unfailing dignity and courage,” the Archbishop said. “We shall always remember his unwearying efforts in the cause of peace.” Members of the Church Assembly, the Parliament of the Church of England, interrupted their meeting in Westminster Central Hall and stood for several minutes with heads -bowed in silent prayer. for the Pope. a ale Meanwhile, Arthur Cardinal Hinsley, Archbishop of Westminster, the only English cardinal of the Catholic Church, booked passage to Italy on a ship sailing tomorrow, to participate in the election of a‘ new Pope. 2

Duce Sends Condolence

To Cardinal Pacelli

ROME, Feb. 10 (U. P.).—Premier Mussolini sent the following ftelegram of condolence today to Cardinal Pacelli, temporary head of the Roman Catholic Church: “The disappearance of the Pope of Conciliation is a misfortune for the church and the Italian people. Interpreting the sentiments of the Italian people, I send your Most

Colleges the condolences of the Fascist Government and myself. . “MUSSOLINI.”

PIUS FIRST T0 SEND BLESSING OVER RADIO

By United Press ~ VATICAN CITY, FEB. 10—Pius XI probably did more things first than any. pontiff of recent times. He was the first Pope to broadcast his blessings, speak for talking pictures, or ride in the Vatican gardens in an automobile. At least three of his automobiles, the first

downed by a pontiff, were of Ameri-

can make. On Feb. 18, 1929, he granted the first papal interview ever given to a

newspaper correspondent when he received Thomas B. Mprgan, United Press Rome bureau ii in private audience. In 1932 he permitted the Swiss Guard, protectors of the Pope, t» organize a football team. i! On Easter Day, 1934, he approved mass in St. Peter’s to the first mocgn musio ‘ever sung in the cathe-

world’s

"| before the outbreak of the World | | War and remained in charge until + | May, 1918,

In September, 1914, Monsignor Ratti was made a canon of the chapter of St. Peter's, while, in October, he was created super-nurr-rary Apostolic Protonotary. He already had been made domestic prelate to His Holiness in March, 1907. - During these years Monsignor Ratti took an annual holiday which he usually spent in Alpine excursions. He made several difficult ascents, including that of Monte Rosa, and an Alpine refuge today recalls his prowess as a climber. The Alps always were his great delight. On Juve 29, 1919, Monsignor Ratti was nominated Apostolic Nuncio in Poland by Benedict XV. This was the future Pope’s” first diplomatic mission. He won the affection of the Poles, and carried out his mission successfully.

Created Archbishop

Benedict XV created him archbishop and he was consecrated in Warsaw. He prepared the way for the concordat between Poland and the Holy See. Monsignor Ratt! arrived in Poland with the title of Apostolic Visitor for Poland and Lithuania. When the Bolshevist invasion was at the doors of Warsaw and the diplomatic corps was leaving, Monsignor “Ratti telegraphed to Benedict XV asking his authorization to remain, even if the city should be occupied. The order came that he was to follow the Polish overnment. g Shortly after the death in February, 1921 of Cardinal Andrea

Reverend Eminence and the Sacred ‘bishop Achille

‘Benedict XV to take his place, and

Ferrari, Archbishop of Milan, ArchRatti was called by

was made cardinal in June of the

same year. : Pope Benedict XV died on Jan.

22, 1922 and Cardinal Ratti was chosen by the conclave to succeed him Feb. 6.

' a{the Lateran Palace.

{sionary exhibition held during

uljmade his first appearal

‘Pope Pius XI's reign as sovereign pontiff was outstandingly notable for the conciliation effected between the Church and the Italian State realized by the Lateran Treaty and Concordat signed on Feb. 11, 1929, ir the Lateran Palace, Rome,

Long Negotiations

Several years of negotiations led up to this agreement, which ended the disseénsions between the Church and the Italian state. : © The conciliation was in great part Pius XI's personal work. The discussions began on Oct. 4, 1926, and ended on Feb. 11, 1929. After the death of the Italian State Councillor, Domenico Baroni, the negotiations took place almost directly between Plus x1 na Muse solini, Marquis elli, brother o Caramal ni mii Bo ad me , ce 129 private audiences with. the Pope on the question of the conciliation. . In 1933; Pius XI celebrated a Holy Year, when more than 250,000 pilgrims, including those from

Church Librarian; Feb. 6, 1922.

Desio, a small Lombard town,

May 81, 1857. He was the fourth child of his parents, Francesco and Teresa. Ratti, and was baptized Ambrose Damian

The Ratti family were residents of Desio as far back

The family came of peasant

stock, but with the introduction of the silk industry they became operatives and later small capitalists. The youthful Ratti received his education from the local priest, Don Giuseppe Volontieri and his uncle, also a priest,

incilnation for the church at 10, he was admitted as a

student in the seminary of St. Peter the Martyr in Milan, Thence, he went to the seminary at Monza and later to the Archbishop’s urban seminary of St. Charles. . ‘So talented a student was® :

tic procession round St. Peter's

‘Square. . On this occasion, he remained in Vatican territory, but later, in the same year, Pius XI made a surprise visit to the Basilica of St. John Lateran, arriving there very early in the morning. | ; Other notable incidents of the reign of Pius XI were the cone. clusion of a concordat with Prussia, the campaign against the French newspaper “L’Action Francaise” and the subsequent excommunication of its chief editors. There were Eucharistic congresses at Chicago, Sydney, Melbourne,

land during his reign. After the conciliation, Pius XI re=ceived in private audiences the King and Queen of Italy and all the princes of the House of Savoy. The year 1931 witnessed the cone troversy between Church and State, which began in the spring and did not end until September. The polemic which developed was long and on occasions bitter in both Fascist and Catholic press. During 1931, Pius XI issued a number of encyclicals, including one on May 15 on world economic and

memoration of the fortieth annie versary of the encyclical “Rerum Novarum.” Other encyclicals were on unemployment (Nova Impendet) and on Christian marriage. The papacy of Piux' XI was filled with troublesome problems in foreign fields and extensive mode ernization within the Vatican itself, The church has faced attacks and at least temporary setbacks in Spain, Mexico and Russia. To offset these losses the Pope intensified missionary work of the church. In China alone 500,000 converts were gained in ‘the 10year period from 1923 to 1933. Many new followers were secured in Africa, where in 1933 more than 100,000 joined the ranks of Catholi=

cism. 1933 Holy Year

The year of 1933 was decreed as a Holy Year. Foreigners who visite ed Italy during the year numbered

pilgrims. 5 The pontiff increased his working hours to grant more audiences and to direct ! personally the church's missionary campaign. He also headed a world church movement of the church to improve morals and peace, He was espee cially active in a decency campaign’ for motion pictures. During his papacy the Vatican was modernized. Many scientific ade vances of the Twentieth Century were installed. Libraries were reorganized and modern systems of filing and cross indexing adopted. ’

from the standpoint of t{ransportae tion, sanitation and, fire protection, Telephone and radio systems have been put into use. Typewriters and other office equipment have made their appearance. Interiors of nue merous buildings also have been ree

stored. nd Private Life A In his ‘private life, Plus XI nol only was devoted to his family and especially his mother, but cule tivated many friendships, He beatified Don Dosco, founder of tha Salesian order, his friend. Another: of his friends was Prof. Contardo Ferrini, teacher of Roman law a¥’ the University of Pavia.

A regular tranquillity of mind we one of the physical ¢

day's work, he did not allow th anxieties of the day to pursue hi through the hours of sleep. Pius XI always was an early rf contenting himself with about hours sleep. He had a fixed table for his work, which he | changed or interrupted. | =

Of spare diet ; a preference for the native province, Lomb casionally smoked a type known in Italy a kind of .cheroot. He gave a great nui ences, both public Prive never spared himself in c on the year right through weather until the August. It was b a motor drive : in the Vatican g afternoon. Pius XT alway

scientific dis

ceived explo

private audiences

various parts of Italy, visited Rome, |for

‘That year also saw the foundation of the Missionary Museum in The exhibits were taken chiefly from the mis-|

‘Holy Year in the Vatican gardens.

On July 25, 1929, Pope Pius XI|state of

outside|

“We &

Buenos Aires, Carthage, and Cleves

labor conditions, published in come

2,528,308, many of whom came as

The Vatican City now is modern

VHEN BARELY 10; }

Pius Born in Small Lombard Town in 18573)

ce :

of Pius XI. When he finished his.