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A Plea for a Prompt, Just

and Flexible Peace



The Text of the Allocution of His Holiness , Pope Pius

XII
,

to the Sacred College of Cardinals , given in

Vatican City
,
December 24, 1946, and radioed to

the World .

Published by

National Catholic Welfare Conference

1312 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.

Washington 5, D. C.

17 17



A Plea for a Prompt, Just

and Flexible Peace

W AS there ever in the historyof the human race, in the
history of the Church, a

Christmas Feast and the dawn of a

new year in which men felt more

keenly and showed more clearly than

today the yearning to see the contrast

disappear, between the message of

peace from Bethlehem and the in-

ternal and external unrest of a world

which so often abandons the straight

path of truth and justice?

Humanity has barely come from

the horrors of a cruel war, the re-

sults of which fill her still with

anguish; and she now gazes with

amazement on the yawning abyss be-

tween the hopes of yesterday and the

realizations of today; an abyss which

the most persistent efforts can bridge

over only with difficulty, because

man, who is capable of destruction is

not always himself capable of recon-

struction.

Behold, for almost two years now

the roar of cannon is silenced. Mili-

tary results in the field of battle have

brought about an indisputable vic-

tory for one of the belligerent parties

and a defeat without precedent for the

other. Seldom in the history of the

world has the sword traced such a

clear line of division between the

conquerors and the conquered.

The joyous and exuberant intoxica-

tion of the victory has vanished. The

inevitable difficulties have manifested

themselves in all their crudity. In-

deed, over all human designs and

plans, are written the words of the

Lord: "By their fruits you will know

them” (Matt. 7, 16). One thing is

beyond all doubting: the fruits and

the repercussions of victory have been,

up to the present, not only of in-

describable bitterness for the defeated,

but for the victors, too, they have

proved to be a source of untold

anxiety and danger.

These dissensions in the past have

gradually increased in their conse-

quences to such a degree that no true

lover of humanity—and much less
the Church of Christ, ever solicitous

to fulfill her mission—could close her
eyes before such a spectacle.

The Church, which has received

from the Divine Savior a mandate

for all nations to lead them to their

eternal salvation, does not intend to

intervene and to take sides in contro-

versies on subjects of mere earthly in-

[
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terest. She is a mother. You do not

ask a mother to favor or to take the

part of one rather than another of her

children.

All ought equally to find and to

feel in her that far-seeing and gen-

erous love, that intimate and unfail-

ing tenderness which gives her faith-

ful children the strength to walk

with firmer step in the royal path of

truth and light, and inspires those led

astray and the erring with the desire of

returning to her maternal guidance.

Never before, perhaps, has the

Church of Christ, her ministers and

faithful of every rank and class had

such need of this enlightened love

—

a love ready for sacrifice knowing no

earthly limit or human prejudice

—

as they have in the critical situation

of today. The sad vicissitudes of the

past seem as nothing in comparison.

It is, then, only the spirit of char-

ity, the sacred duty of Our Apostolic

Office, that prompts Us to speak to-

day, the eve of the Holy Nativity.

This alone induces Us to address the

entire world, and to use the waves of

the air to carry to the extremity of

the earth the expression of Our

anxieties and fears, of Our prayers

and most ardent hopes, confident that

many noble and understanding hearts,

even outside the Catholic Com-

munion, will hear Our appeal and will

lend Us their efficacious collaboration.

We do not mean to criticize but to

stimulate; not to accuse but to help.

"Thoughts of peace and not of af-

fliction”
(
Jer . 29, 11), move Our

heart, and We would wish to quicken

such thoughts in the depths of the

souls of those who hear Us.

We well know that Our words and
Our intentions run the risk of being

misinterpreted or even of being dis-

torted for the scope of political

propaganda. But the possibility of

such erroneous or malicious comments

could not seal Our lips. We would
think Ourselves unworthy of Our

office, of the cross that the Lord has

placed on our weak shoulders; We
would believe that We were betraying
the souls that look to Us for the light

of truth and sure guidance, if, in

order to avoid evil interpretations,

We hesitated to do Our full part at

this critical hour to reawaken dor-

mant consciences and to recall them

to the duties of the holy warfare of

Christ.

No claim of veto, no matter where
it comes from, could hold against the

precept of Christ, "go and teach.”

With unswerving obedience to the Di-

vine Founder of the Church, We de-
vote Ourselves, and will continue to

devote Ourselves, to the utmost limit

of Our strength, in the fulfillment of

Our Office to defend truth, to protect

the right, to propound the eternal

principles of humanity and of love.

In the exercise of this Our duty it may

well be that We shall meet with oppo-
sitions and misunderstandings. But

We find strength in the lot meted out
to the Redeemer Himself and to those

who followed in His footsteps. The

humble but intrepid words of the

Apostle Paul come to mind: "With me

it is a very small matter to be judged

(by men) ... he who judges me,

is the Lord.” (I COR. 4, 3-4).

It was indeed to be feared, consid-

ering the ruinous and confused condi-

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tion in which the cruel conflict left

the world, that the path from the end

of the war to the conclusion of the

peace would be long and painful. But

at present we are witnessing its con-

tinuation without being able to fore-

see—despite some notable progress at
last made—how or when it will be
terminated; and this indefinite pro-

longing of an abnormal state of in-

stability and uncertainty is the clear

symptom of an evil which constitutes

the sad characteristic of our age.

Men were witnesses of prodigious

activity in all the fields of military

power, formidable in its precision and

extent of preparation and organiza-

tion, lightning-like in the speed and

improvisation with which it was con-

tinuously adapting itself to circufti-

stances and needs; now they see the

elaboration and the drawing up of

peace taking place with great slow-

ness and amid divergencies not yet

overcome in determining aims and

methods.

When for the first time the At-

lantic Charter was announced, the

whole world listened; at last one could

breath freely. But what remains of

that message and its provisions?

Even in some of those States which,

either through free choice or under

the aegis of other greater powers, love

to appear to the world of today as the

standard bearers of new and true

progress, the "Four Freedoms” re-

cently hailed with enthusiasm by

many, now seem only a shadow or a

counterfeit of what was in the mind

and intentions of the most loyal of

their promulgators.

We most willingly recognize the

untiring efforts of outstanding states-

men who for a year or so, in a scries of

almost uninterrupted and toilsome

conferences, have labored to bring

about what honest men the world over

ardently long for and desire.

But, alas, differences of opinion,

mutual distrust and suspicion, the

doubtful value, in fact and in justice,

of not a few decisions already taken

or still to be taken, have made un-

certain and fragile the strength and

vitality of compromises and solutions

based on force or political prestige,

which leave deep down in many hearts

delusion and discontent.

Instead of advancing toward a real

peace, people in vast territories of the

globe and in large sections especially

of Europe are in a state of constant

unrest from which there could arise

sooner or later the flames of new con-

flicts.

When one sees and ponders all this,

one is profoundly impressed with the

gravity of the present hour and feels

the need of calling on the rulers of

the nations, in whose hands lie the

destiny of the world and on whose de-

liberations depend the success and

progress or the failure of the peace,

and asking them to consider three

points:

( 1 )
The first condition in order

to fulfill the expectations of the na-

tions, to lessen and gradually to re-

move the internal disturbances from

which they suffer, to remove the dan-

gerous international tensions is that

all your energies and all your good

will be directed to putting an end to

the present intolerable state of in-

certitude and to hasten, as soon as pos-

m



sible, the coming of a definite peace

among all States—and that notwith-
standing difficulties which no calm

consideration can fail to recognize.

During the long years of the war

and post-war period, human nature,

a prey to innumerable and indescrib-

able sufferings, has given proof of in-

credible powers of resistance. But

this power is limited!

For millions of human beings that

limit has already been reached; the

spring is already stretched too far; the

slightest thing would cause it to snap,

and its breaking could have irreparable

consequences. Humanity wants to be

able to hope again.

A speedy and complete conclusion

of peace is of real and lively interest

to all those who know that only a

prompt return to normal economic,

juridical and spiritual relations among

nations can save the world from in-

calculable shocks and disorders which

would only help the dark forces to

evil.

Therefore, let the year that is now

coming to an end be the last year of

vain and fruitless expectancy; let the

new year see the peace a reality.

(2) The year of fulfilment. This

thought leads to the second appeal

that every right-minded person makes

to the rulers of the nations.

You rightly long to see—and how
could it be otherwise?—your names
written in letters of gold on the scroll

of the benefactors of the human race.

The mere thought that one day—even
without fault on your part—they
may be opprobiously listed among the

authors of its ruin, fills you with

horror. Apply, then, all the forces

of your mind and will to give to your

work of peace the seal of the true

justice, of far-seeing wisdom, of a

sincere service to the common inter-

ests of the entire human family.

The utter depth of misery into

which the horrible war has thrown

humanity calls for help and imperi-

ously demands to be healed by means

of a peace that is morally noble and

irreproachable: such a peace that may

teach future generations to outlaw

every trace of brutal force and to re-

store to the idea of right the priority

of place from which it was wickedly

dislodged.

We justly appreciate the arduous
but noble work of those statesmen

who, disregarding the insidious voices

of revenge and hate, have been toiling

and are still toiling without respite

for the fulfilment of such a high ideal.

But notwithstanding their generous

efforts, who could ever say that the

discussions and debates of the year

that is ending have resulted in a clear

plan, drawn up logically in its main

outlines, and calculated to reawaken

in all nations confidence in a future

of tranquillity and justice.

No doubt, such a disastrous war,
unleashed by an unjust aggression and

continued beyond lawful limits when

it was clear that it was irreparably

lost, could not be terminated simply

in a peace which did not include guar-

antees that similar acts of violence

would not be repeated. Nevertheless,

all the measures of repression and

prevention should keep their character

of means and hence remain subordi-

nate to the lofty and ultimate pur-

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poses of a true peace which, while

providing the necessary guarantees,

contemplates the gradual cooperation

of conquerors and conquered in the

work of reconstruction to the advan-

tage of the entire family of nations

and as well of each of its members.

Any balanced observer will be will-

ing to recognize that these indisputa-

ble principles have made real progress

during the past year in not a few

minds and that, too, as a result of the

painful repercussion felt by the vital

interests of the victorious States them-

selves. One finds some satisfaction

also in noting that competent and au-

thoritative voices in ever-increasing

numbers are raised against an unlim-

ited prolongation of the present con-

ditions on the life and economic re-

covery of the defeated. Immediate

contact with the indescribable misery

of the post-war period in some zones

has awakened in many hearts the con-

sciousness of a common responsibility

to lessen effectively, and eventually

to overcome, such a great evil; this

sentiment is as honorable for one as

it is encouraging for the other.

Recently a new factor has arisen

to stimulate the desire for peace and

the determination to promote it more

effectively; the might of new instru-

ments of destruction which modern

technique has developed and contin-

ues to develop to such an extent that

they appear to the terrified eyes of

humanity infernal creations. This

factor has brought the problem of

disarmament into the center of inter-

national discussions under completely

new aspects, and it provides an incen-

tive that was never felt before; thence

springs hope of solving what past gen-

erations have longed for in vain.

Notwithstanding these well-founded

motives of hope, in which no one can

rejoice more than the Church, it

seems that, in the present state of

affairs, one must expect with great

probability that the future peace

treaties will only be an "opus im-

perfectum.” Many of those who

write them will recognize in them

the result of compromises between

the policies and claims of differing

political powers rather than the ex-

pression of their own personal ideas

based on the true and just concepts of

right and equity, of human feeling

and prudence.

(3) This leads naturally to the

third appeal addressed to the rulers

of the nations:

If you wish to give more than a

superficial stability and duration to

your labors for the new order and a

peace that will not fail; if you wish

to prevent its being violated sooner or

later due to its own harshness, to the

practical difficulties of putting it into

effect, to its inherent defects and

shortcomings, to the omissions and

insufficiencies perhaps inevitable to-

day, to its real or imagined effects in

the future which cannot be calculated

at the moment; then take care to

leave open the way for amendments

—

according to a clearly determined pro-

cedure—as soon as the majority of
peoples, the voice of reason and of

equity show that these amendments

are opportune and desirable or even

called for.

In design, a machine can appear to

be of indisputable perfection for its

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rigorous mathematical precision, but

may show itself seriously defective in

a real trial when it is faced with a

number of unforeseen technical diffi-

culties. In a moral, social and po-

litical order, how much more easily

can a project appear excellent on pa-

per, the fruit of laborious discussion,

but then fail in the test of time and

experience, where psychological fac-

tors play an important role! Cer-

tainly everything cannot be foreseen.

But it is wise to leave the door open

for future revisions and eventual

adjustments.

In doing this, you will show your-

self faithful to the words spoken in

memorable circumstances by authori-

tative interpreters of public opinion;

you will be sure of not causing any

prejudice to your best interests; and

you will give to the entire human fam-

ily a luminous example by showing

that there is no safer way toward the

desired peace than that which comes

from the re-education of mankind in

the spirit of fraternal solidarity.

When one knows one is advancing
along a safe path—how beautiful a
thing it is to walk in the light! The

light: look at it, all of you who are

united by the same Faith in the

Saviour of the world! To illumine

the path, it comes down from the

Star that shines over Bethlehem.

If one wishes to return to the

great principles of justice that lead

to peace, one must go to Bethlehem.

One must recall the example and the

doctrine of Him Who from the cradle
to the cross knew no higher mission

than that of fulfilling the will of the

Heavenly Father, rescuing the world

from the darkness of error and mire

of sin where it lay pitiably. It must

be brought to acknowledge its sub-

jection to the majesty of the Divine

Law as its norm of right thinking

and its measure of wholesome and

conscientious conduct.

The great return to the axioms of

the message of Bethlehem was never

more necessary for the world than to-

day. Indeed, rarely has the contrast

between the precepts of that Divine

message and the reality as we see it

been made, alas, so clear to men.

Frightened by this contrast, would

you wish, beloved sons and daughters,

to lose courage? Would you wish to

increase the number of those who,

alarmed at the instability of the times,

begin themselves to waver in such a

way that more or less knowingly they

play the part of the adversaries of

Christ? No Christian has the right

to show himself tired of the fight

against the anti-religious surge of

today. It matters little under what

forms, with what methods, weapons,

words— enticing or menacing— and
in what disguises the enemy hides

himself. No one can be excused for

remaining in his presence with folded

arms, bowed head and trembling knees.

The same tactics are always used

against the Church: “Strike the shep-

herd, and the sheep shall be scattered”

{Zac. 13, 7).

Ever the same tactics, powerless to

find something new, always inglorious

as it is vain. It repeats itself in the most

diverse places and even tries its strength

against the very See of Peter. The

Church, even though her heart bleeds,

does not fear for herself—she has the

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Divine promise—but she fears the loss
of so many souls. Her annals are

there to recall how many times the

most impetuous assaults have been

dashed to pieces against the strong and

calm Rock on which she is built, sure

of her immortality.

Today as yesterday, and tomorrow

as today, all the efforts to conquer

and tear her asunder must yield and

come to nought before the vital force

of the Vinculum Caritatis, which

unites pastor and flock.

If in the arduous but resolute per-

formance of Our office anything gives

Us peace and encouragement, it is,

after Our confidence in Him Who
chooses the weak things to confound

the arrogance of the strong, the solid

conviction of being able to count on

the prayer, fidelity and watchfulness

of an "acies ordinata” (Can. 6, 3) (an

army set in array) whose fitness and

experience have overcome the great-

est trials.

Recently, We had the pleasure of
raising to the honors of the altars a

heroic band of Martyrs, who in seal-

ing with their blood the profession

of their Faith have embellished the

dawn of our century. Since those

days other bands of priests and faith-

ful soldiers of Christ yet unknown,

have rendered and still render the

same testimony. We do not doubt
that a day will see them brought

from obscurity to glory, when his-

tory will finally lift the heavy cur-

tain that covers and darkens our time.

May the example of their courage and

their fidelity, spurning death, inflame

the hearts of Our beloved sons and

daughters and fill them with the same

sentiments of strength and confidence

which ensure for the Standard of

Christ its peaceful victory for the

greater good of all humanity.

We cannot end this, our Christmas
message, without recalling the suffer-

ing and the needs arising from the

serious food situation and health con-

ditions of the nations tried by the war.

Already on April 5 of this year We
uttered a cry of help to the rulers and

to the peoples of those countries who

could come to the help of the starving

populations with their reserves. And,

in truth, much has been done. Moved

by the tragic plight especially of the

weak, the aged and the children, the

civilized world did not remain insen-

sible or slothful; and praise is due to

the humane and Christian spirit of

those men and nations who organized

multiple relief works. Following on

the sanguinary paths of the armies,

they brought to the victims of the

war all kind of help. They have saved

the honor of mankind which was so

shamefully outraged by violence and

hate.

Would to Heaven that these funds

of energy and provision charitably

lavished in relieving the most needy

and bringing them from utter ruin

—would that they had been sufficient
for the task! Alas, it is not so; there-

fore, We feel compelled to renew Our
appeal of last spring. There looms

over vast territories of Europe star-

vation.

Bread—in the literal sense of the
word—is needed by entire popula-
tions, who because of its lack are be-

coming weak, worn out, enervated,

the prey of diseases and pains, and

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dangerously aroused by the dull goad

of hopeless rancor and deep-seated so-

cial rebellion.

Such is the tremendous danger that

darkens the dawn of the new year, a

danger so much more serious because

from some symptoms which reveal un-

certainty and weariness, the magnani-

mous work of human solidarity seems

on the verge of deteriorating even be-

fore a remedy can be applied to the

ills which it was designed to relieve.

It is but human that they upon

whom fortune is smiling should be in-

clined to keep aloof and forget the

wretchedness of others. Closing their

eyes and their hearts to the misfortunes

of a neighbor who is unknown and far

away, they think they can justify in

their own consciences the isolationism

and disinterestedness in the necessi-

ties of others; their personal needs

consume funds that the practice of

charity would have laid aside; and

their means of relief fail to provide

that assistance for which charity to the

neighbor would have destined them.

Therefore, We say once more to all

who can lend a helping hand: let not

your zeal grow cold; let your help be

ever more available and generous!

Away with all greedy selfishness, all

mean doubts, all bitterness, all in-

difference, all rancor.

Let your eye see only the misery

and, above all, the suffering of mil-

lions of children and young people

who are perishing with hunger. In

this way you, at one and the same

time, give and receive the ineffable

Christmas Gift: "Peace on earth to

men of good will!”

Nothing is so well suited to create

the indispensable spiritual require-

ments of peace as help liberally given

by state to state, by a people to a

people, without regard to national

boundaries, so that nations, laying

aside feelings of rivalry and of ven-

geance, restraining their craving for

power and banishing the thought of

privileged isolation, may learn from

their own fortunes to understand, to

tolerate, and to help one another,

and thus—upon the ruins of a civi-
lization forgetful of the teachings of

the Gospel—the Christian Common-
wealth may rise again, in which the

law of love is supreme.

With this prayer on Our lips, we

extend to all who are listening to Us

this Christmas Eve a fervent wish

that "the peace of God which sur-

passes all understanding” (Phil. 4, 7),

may be theirs, and from the depth of

Our heart We impart to all Our be-
loved sons and daughters throughout

the world as a pledge of the choicest

graces of the Word of God made man,

Our Paternal Apostolic Blessing.

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