ADSS 1.160, 161 Pope Pius XII - last appeal for peace

ADSS 1.160 Pope Pius XII

Reference: AES 5931/39; AAS 31 (1939), pp335-36.

Location and date: Vatican, 31.08.1939

Summary statement: Last appeal for peace.

Language: Italian and French

Text:

The Holy Father does not wish to abandon the hope that the negotiations now in being could bring about the just and peaceful solution for which the entire world does not cease to pray.

His Holiness, in the name of God, therefore begs the Governments of Germany and Poland to do their utmost to avoid every incident and to abstain from taking any step capable or worsening the present tension.  He begs the governments of Great Britain, France and Italy to support his request.

ADSS 1.161 Circular Letter of Luigi Maglione, Sec State to Nuncios in Paris, Berlin, Warsaw, Berne, San Sebastian and the Hague.

Reference:  AES 5884/39

Location and date: Vatican, 31.08.1939

Summary statement: Informs the nuncios of the Pope’s last appeal for peace.

Language: Italian

Text:

I have today called together the Ambassadors of Germany, France, Italy, Poland and Spain as well as the British Minister and I have communicated to them the following message of the Holy Father:

The Holy Father does not wish to abandon the hope that the negotiations now in being could bring about the just and peaceful solution for which the entire world does not cease to pray.

His Holiness, in the name of God, therefore begs the Governments of Germany and Poland to do their utmost to avoid every incident and to abstain from taking any step capable or worsening the present tension.  He begs the governments of Great Britain, France and Italy to support his request. (1)

To the nuncios of Spain (2), Belgium (3), Holland (4) and Switzerland (5) the following telegram was also sent:

I beg Your Eminence to communicate the above to the Government there, tactfully suggesting that it should support the Holy See’s action.

Notes: 

(1) The Ambassadors and British Minister sent the pope’s appeal to their respective governments.  See DBFP, Series 3, Volume 7, n602, p448; DGFP, Series D, Volume 7, n473, p461; DDI, Series 8, Volume 13, n494, p310.

(2) Gaetano Cicognani (1881-1962), Nuncio to Spain 1938-53.

(3) Clemente Micara (1879-1965), Nuncio to Belgium and Luxembourg 1923-50.

(4) Paolo Giobbe (1880-1972), Inter-Nuncio to the Netherlands 1935-58.

(5) Filippo Bernardini (1884-1954), Nuncio to Switzerland 1935-53.