Sacred Heart College - Stella Oriens Yearbook (Regina, Saskatchewan Canada)

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j eacCy he iuit of justice With the children of the Church throughout the world, we would pay tribute to Our Holy Father, Pope Pius XII, in this year of his episcopal jubilee, by presenting to our readers a short sketch of the first three years of his pontificate. In the late afternoon of March 2, 1939, a tense crowd stood, silent and expectant, in huge St. Peter’s square, while the brilliant glow of an Italian sunset lit the sky. Suddenly a murmur went through the crowd. Smoke was coming from the fateful chimney, smoke to announce to the waiting thousands the results of the Cardinals’ ballots. But was that smoke white—proclaiming that a new Pontiff had been elected, or black—a sign that the ballot had failed? Against the brilliant sky it was impossible to tell. So, while the disappointed crowd argued over the color of the smoke a broadcast was sent from the Vatican—Eugenio Paceili was Pope. Thus strangely enough. Catholics the world over, miles from the scene of the great drama knew the climax before those who had spent weary hours at the very door of the theatre. But when the glad tidings were finally an¬ nounced to the crowds in the Square, scarcely had they heard, “Eugenium”, when they broke out into the “Te Deum.” To the Romans there was but one Eugenio, their beloved Cardinal Paceili. As the throng was leaving St. Peter’s, newsboys were already on the scene with “extras”, bearing the picture of the newly elected Pontiff. Amazed at this evidence of journal¬ istic speed, the crowds mechanically reached for the news-sheets. Yes, there was the face of Pius XII, but the close observer noticed that the hands were those of Pius XL Ten days later, in the afternoon of March 12, 1939, Eugenio Paceili appeared on a balcony of St. Peter’s in Rome in view of cheering thousands who jammed the vast square before the ancient church. After four hours of solemn ceremonial within the red and gold bedecked basilica, he had come outdoors to receive the triple tiara as Father of Princes and Kings, Rector of the world and Vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which symbolized his accession as Pope Pius XII. A shadow was lifted from crowds thronging below for they spoke of three happy omens. The new Pontiff’s family name, Paceili, was derived from the Italian “pace” meaning peace. He had chosen as his papal title the name of his predecessor—Pius XI—Pope of peace. A dove bringing an olive branch figured prominently on his personal coat of arms. TEN

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However, in spite of the happy auguries pointing to an early peace, war has tightened its death grip on the world and war has added immeas¬ urable burdens both practical and spiritual to the already heavy task set before Pius XII. In his short reign of three years, Pope Pius XII has raised several servants of God to the honours of the altar.St. Gemma Galgani, St. Euphrasie Pelletier, St. Maria Cabrini, Bl. Phillipine Duchesne, Bl. Joach- ima be Vedruna, Bl. Maria Crucifixia di Rosa, Bl. Ignatius ar Laconi, to mention only a few. Our Holy Father has recently erected a new arch¬ diocese in the United States. The election of Cardinal Pacelli meant continuance of Pius XI’.s policy which as Papal Secretary of State he had helped to effect; a policy of opposition to race prejudice, religious persecution, and what is most important — to wars of aggression. His first message was a plea for peace; he made untiring efforts to convene a five-power conference for peaceful settlement of Europe’s problems. His views on the Social Structure were clearly set forth in his broadcast from Rome, June 1, 1941, wherein he declared that individual right cannot in any way be suppressed. As the war has gone on, pained but not daunted when his proposals are politely eluded, Pius has repeatedly renewed his peace efforts. Diplomatic advan¬ ces, offers of mediation and appeals to dictators have been reinforced with orders for public Masses and Crusades of Prayer, for special appeals to the Blessed Virgin by little children bearing flowers. The Pope himself has been besieged by appeals, public and private, from statesmen, church¬ men and laymen to take more active steps against war; he has been simul¬ taneously applauded for vigor and denounced for weakness. From the first momentous days of his reign, nay, even from his first words as Pope ail his efforts have been for Peace. His motto like a gleam¬ ing star has guided his actions and his diplomacy. “Peace, the fruit of Justice”. His Easter Homily pursued this theme of peace, when to an anxious world he pleaded for peace based on justice and charity. Peace could not exist, he said, if solemnly sanctioned pacts and the plighted word had lost that value indispensable to reciprocal confidence. A remarkable diplomatic development in Pius XII’s reign was Presi¬ dent Roosevelt’s appointment of Mr. Myron Taylor as his private ambassa¬ dor to the Holy See, for in making the appointment President Roosevelt had broken a 70-year-old tradition — the last official representative of the United States had left Rome in 1870. The Pope described the President’s action as undoubtedly helping in the common aim, to secure peace and lighten the suffering of war. The personal letter of introduction from the President carried the felicitations of Roosevelt to Pius: “I am asking Mr.