to ale Cardinal Pacelli as successor to the decision of the Conclave of Cardinals
late Pope Pius XI, despite the fact that i! has given rise to heartburnings in some countries, was probably the wisest course to take in view of all the circumstances. Cardinal Pacelli, Papal Foreign Secretary under his predecessor, has acquired a deep insight into the relations between the Vatican and the various States of the world, and while he may not be particularly popular in Germany, where the Press seems to resent his election, other nations will approve of the preferment of a man even though he may be dubbed, as he has been by the German Press, a "professional politician." It is by no means certain that a man solely a cleric would have been the best choice in view of the international situation. Cardinal Pacelli, it was believed before the Conclave entered into session, wa a good prospect for the Papacy, especially if the Conclave were likely to arrive at their decision in an early ballot, and it was readily conceded that while in such circumstances he stood a very good chance, there was always the possibility that agreement would be difficult of attainment, in which event there was every likelihood of a compromise candidate being selected. That has happened quite frequently in the past, and if Cardinal Pacelli had failed to secure the requisite number of votes in an early ballot, he might again have proved the correctness of the old adage to the effect that the man who enters the Conclave as a Pope comes out as a car dinal His election has been welcomed in practically every country in the world, with particular satisfaction in the democracies, and only in the case of Germany with any rea!
gree of dissatisfaction. It is probably as Il for the Roman Catholic Church that its fairs have now been placed in the hands 5f a man who has been thoroughly grounded in the arts of diplomacy. As an augury for the future development of Papal international policy it seems to make certain that the lines rigid down by Pope Pius XI, and executed by the man who is now Pope Pius XII, will oe continued, and that there will be no material departure from policies which have already been firmly established.
In this the Conclave has demonstrated its wisdom. Pius XI throughout his papacy maintained an attitude of strict defence of ihe Church's rights and privileges. He did not hesitate to condemn political doctrines which he considered at variance with the teaching of the Church, and was quick to essist any endeavours to restrict its activities. He does not appear to have been wholly successful in doing that, but he established the Church as a power in international politics. The election of Pius XII is in effect an expression of the determination of the College of Cardinals to continue a policy which steers between the extreme views of Democrats on the one hand and totalitarian States on the other. It reemphasizes the impartiality of the Church, and what is of even greater importance tacitly endorses the policies which were followed by the late Pope. Thus, in providing for a continuity of policy, and taking precautions against the possibility of there ever being a rapid change, the cardinals have endowed the Church with an even greater political strength than it already has, and have permitted of no misunderstanding as to their collective position vis-à-vis of certain international developments. No small amount of anxiety was felt lest the Conclave should have elected a man representative of one or other of the principal schools of political thought. Had it done so, there was alway: the danger that in the Church itself there might have been sown seeds of future schism. Indeed the prospect of the Church becoming the warring ground for profane, political struggles was one which could only be regarded with the greatest dismay. The elevation of Cardinal Pacelli removes all possible danger of any such misfortune befalling the Church in the near future. That danger may have been removed for ever, for it is to be hoped that by the time it becomes necessary to select a successor to Pope Pius XII,—and it is to be hoped that he will have many years to serve in the high position which is now his,—the political scene will have changed to such an extent that present differences will have disappeared.
Pius XII will have no easy task ahead of him. There are outstanding questions which have to be settled between the Church, and those States which have not seen eye to eye with it. There are evils which he will desire to see stamped out, and he will be resisted by men who, no matter what may be thought of their political doctrines, at any rate for the present have the power to enforce them upon their own people. His reign will see a contest between temporal and spiritual power. In it he will not be so weak as mere spiritual armament sometimes makes a man or an institution appear, for in the Church he wields a moral influence which it is not practical politics to ignore. It has been said of the new Pope that he does not possess quite the same rugged characteristics which marked his predecessor. Whether that is so or not remains to be seen as he conducts the affairs of his high office, but this may be safely said of him,—there is nothing to suggest that there is anything of a quality of weakness about him, and very much to indicate that to firmness of character is added all the finesse which education and experience in the art of diplomacy have endowed him. In these respects he is admirably fitted to steer his Church through the difficult years which are still ahead, and in his election is to be seen a strengthening of the Church' position which might not have been so apparent had some other Cardinal without his peculiar experience been appointed in his stead. And there is still the humanity of the man himself to be considered. The prayers of the faithful and of. those without his spiritual jurisdiction will accompany him as he goes through the solemnities which mark his elevation. There will be few who will fail to understand the heavy burden which is thus laid on.one man's shoulders, heavy enough at all times, but more than usually burdensome in a period sugh as this. It will be the hope of all Christendom that he will be spared many years in which to justify by his actions the decision of the Conclave to call him to the eminence he has reached, and to further the prospects of his Church, and the peace for which it stands.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.