During these years Mgr. Ratti took annual holiday which he usually spent in Alpine excursions. He made several dificult ascents, including that of Monte Rosa, and'an Alpine refuge today recalls his prowess as a climber. The Alps always have been hig great delight.
On June 20, 1910, Mgr. atti was nominated Apostolic Nuncio in Poland by Benedict Xv. This was the future Pope's first diplomatic mission, He won the affection of the Poles, and carried out his mission suceersfully.
Benedict XV created him archbishop, and he was consecrated in Warsniy. Ite prepared te way' fo1 the concordat between Poland and the ely See.
"Met. Rot arrived in Poland with the tile of "Apostolic" Visitor "or Poland and Lithuania, "When the Bolshevist Tavasion was ajuthe dors of Ware, and Ral telephed to" Benedict "32V matic corps was leaving,
asking, his authorisation to. remain, even it the city should be occupied The order came that he was fo follow the Polish government. ed Mat and Papal Throne Shortly after the death in February. tomy, of Cardinal vAandera Terra, Archbishop "of "Milan. Archbiehop chile Tate Seas called by Benedict The Church, during the reign Puis XI faced attack and at. least temporary setbacks in Spain, Mexico Jand. Soviet Russia, To offset these losses the Pope intensified missionary] work of the Church. In China alone }500,000 converts were gained in the ten-year period from 1923 to 1933. Many new followers were secured in Africa where in 1933 more than 100,000) {joined the ranks of Catholicism.
The year of 1933 was decreed as Jo Holy Year. Foreigners who visited Moly, during the year numbered 2526.08, many of whom came as pile rims, The Pontiff increased his working hours to grant more audiences and to direct personally the church's mis sionary campaign.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.