ADSS 1.237 Pius XII to King Vittorio Emanuele and Queen Elena of Italy

ADSS 1.237 Pius XII to King Vittorio Emanuele and Queen Elena of Italy.

Reference: ASS, 1939, p62.

Location and date: Quirinal Palace, Rome, 28.12.1939

Summary statement: Address of the Pope in the Quirinal; the return visit after the royal visit to the Vatican.

Language: Italian

Text:

On this auspicious day, in this august Royal Palace, as if a modern Palatinate of a new history of Rome, before His Majesty the King Emperor and Her Majesty the Queen Empress, mirror of motherly virtues to the Italian people, in the presence of a distinguished gathering of Royal Princes and Princesses, of court dignitaries and Government – and of the Eminent Cardinals and our retinue – We renew the expression of deeply felt pleasure at the solemn visit of their Majesties the Apostolic Vatican Palace made with that feeling of veneration for St Peter’s See which honours the Catholic spirit of the Dynasty of Savoy, made glorious by its Saints.  In this royal palace We confirm today the happy relations between Church and State, established ten years ago and which will remain one of the most shining glories of Our revered predecessor Pius XI and of His Majesty Victor Emanuel III.

Vatican and Quirinal, separated by the Tiber river, are united by the bonds of peace and by the memory of the religion of fathers and forebears.  The flowing water of the Tiber has carried away and buried the confused relics of the past in the Mediterranean sea and on its banks olive branches have blossomed again.

Today in this splendid hall, while the hand of a Roman Pontiff, for the first time after so many years, is raised again in the sign of benediction and peace, Italy watches and rejoices; the Catholic world watches and rejoices, and the two Princes of the Apostles, still sitting at the entrance of this palace, also seem to rejoice that they witness the dawn of a new era.  And Our lady of the Annunciation, who has her sacred altar here, will, I am sure bestow the bounty of her Grace on the Royal Family who revere her as the emblem of their highest Order of Chivalry.  And We too implore God and the Virgin Mother to extend the protection over the august Sovereigns, the Royal Princes and Princesses, over the distinguished Head and Members of the Government and all persons here present and bless the peace which, protected by the wisdom of its Rulers, makes Italy great, strong and respected.  And We hope with all Our heart that this example may urge and guide the peoples as brothers turned into enemies fighting each other on land, air and sea, to future understanding – an understanding whose content and spirit promise the development of a new peaceful and lasting order based on justice and Christian charity, without which there is no hope of lasting peace.

Notes: 

ADSS 1.236 Maglione to Cicognani: response to FDR

ADSS 1.236 Luigi Maglione, Sec State, to Amleto Cicognani, Ap Del USA.

Reference: Telegram 189 (ASS 9474)

Location and date: Vatican, 24.12.1939

Summary statement: Pope sends his thanks to FDR for his message and the appointment of Myron Taylor.

Language: Italian

Text:

Received coded telegram number 300 and open telegram (1).

Auspicious message of President Roosevelt has been gratefully received by His Holiness because of the origin, and noble sentiments which inspire it and the spiritual and civil benefits which give rise to hope of peace.

The august Pontiff, while proposing to answer this important and noble document personally, instructs Your Excellency to express, through the good offices of Mons. Spellman, Archbishop of New York, his deep gratitude to the President for the appointment of an envoy with the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary in the person of Mr Myron Taylor, whom he will be pleased to receive with all honour due to the dignity of the important mission entrusted to him.  He also invokes on the Eve of Christmas, the Supreme Assistance of Almighty God on the first citizen of the great Republic and on the entire American nation.

I ask Your Excellency to advise if before sending official reply to message we should await the receipt of written text or if the President intended to send telegraphic transmission only.

Notes: 

(1) ADSS 1.232

ADSS 1.235 Christmas Address of Pius XII

ADSS 1.235 Pius XII Christmas Address

Reference: ASS, XXXI (1940), pp5-13.

Location and date: Vatican, 24.12.1939

Summary statement: After spoken of the joy of Christmas and the last message of Pope Pius XI, the Pope draws attention to the horrors of the present war, the violation of human rights and his efforts to prevent it.  Sets out the prerequisites for a just and lasting peace.

Language: Italian

Text: readily available in Italian.

Notes: 

ADSS 1.213 Pius XII - Encyclical Summi Pontificatus

ADSS 1.213 Pius XII, Encyclical Summi pontificatus

Reference: AAS XXXI (1939), pp 413-435.

Location and date: Castel Gandolfo, 20.10.1939

Summary statement: The evils born of war and those that it portends are the outcome of errors denounced by the Church.  The theory that attributes to the State an absolute autonomy corrodes international justice at its base.  Peaceful coexistence pre-supposes mutual trust and observance of the pledged word.  Future peace should consider these principles and the victor should resist unjust temptations.  The new order must not rest on force but on natural rights and divine revelation.  The war has ravaged Poland, which has merited the sympathy of the world for its fidelity to the Church and Christian civilisation.  The Pope recalls his endeavours to prevent the conflict.  He ends with an appeal to charity for the victims and with vows for peace.

Language: Latin, Italian

Text:

ADSS 1.210 Pius XII to German Pilgrims

ADSS 1.210 Pope Pius XII to a group of German Pilgrims

Reference: Discourses and Radio Messages 1, p321.

Location and date: Castel Gandolfo, 26.09.1939

Summary statement: In this dark hour priests must rise about nationalism and all must pray for peace and justice and for the Church in Germany.

Language: German

Text:

My dear sons you are cordially welcome.  You know how deeply concerned We are with all matters and aspects of the life and ministry of the Church amongst the German people.

You have come to Us in a grave hour.  It is so grave and the future is so dark that we humans can at this time only see and say one thing: the war which has broken out is, for all peoples involved in it, a terrible punishment of God.

For a priest, it is now more than ever before imperative to be wholly above all political and national passion; to console, to comfort, to help, to call to prayer and to penance, and himself to pray and to do penance.

Pray that God in his mercy may shorten the horror of war and give peace which for all concerned shall be a peace with honour, with justice, with reconciliation and settlement and which shall also mean happier days and greater freedom again for the Catholic church in your beloved Fatherland.

To you dear son, and all those entrusted to your care We give from a full heart the Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of the love, mercy, the strength and patience of Jesus Christ.

Notes: