ADSS
1.222 Sec State Notes
Reference: AES 8991/39
Location and date: Vatican,
02.12.1939
Summary statement: French
opinion favours a Christmas truce: feels this would be well-received in UK and
Germany.
Language: Italian
Text:
Mons Fontenelle (1), feeling
that he could not wait for the return of the Substitute, related to Mr X as
follows:
In various sections of
French opinion a trend has been noted which would favour the Holy Father’s
intervening in favour of a truce of 24
hours for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, to be proposed to the
belligerents (2). There are reasons to
believe that such an initiative would be favourably received by Great Britain
and Germany itself, although bombing up to now has been almost non-existent; it
was only a question of being able to assure the civil population that they
could safely attend Midnight Mass.
In this way the instructions
of the French Episcopate regarding the cancellation of Midnight Mass on
Christmas Eve could be revoked (2).
The Ambassadors could be
“sounded out” confidentially beforehand about the chances of a favourable
reception.
Notes:
(1) Rene Fontenelle,
(1894-1957), curial official in Rome.
(2) Bishops’ Conferences
across Europe and in Britain had advised against celebrating Midnight Mass
because of fears of travelling through blackouts and curfews. In most cases parishes went ahead anyway in
1939.
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