Figure 1.-- Here we see Pope Pius XII withorohans being cared for by the Church. The press caption read, "Pope's Service for Children: Watched by orphan children from the Villa Nazareth Orphanage in Rome, Pope Pius XII kneels in prayer during a service in his private chapel at his summer residence. The children were given special permission to join the Pontif in his meditatiions." The photograph sas dated October 6, 1954.

Italy has always been a special concern for the papacy. Of course until very recenbtly, almost all popes were Italian. And the Vatiacn is located in Rome. The Pope is the Bishop of Rome with pastoral duties in Rome. We see him ministering to children. Pope Pius became deeply involved in Itlalian politics. He was rather distrustful of Alcide de Gasperi and Italy's Christian Democrats, the Church's most natural political ally. He considering the Party, however, too indecisive and fractious. And he was wary of reformist elements within the Party such as the Sicilian priest Luigi Sturzo. Both Italy and France had large Communist parties. There was a very real danger that Communist parties there might win national elections. The Pope used Catholic Action, an organization of Catholic laity, to mobilise the Catholic vote against the Communists and other allied leftist parties.

Created: 12:04 PM 9/21/2020
Last updated: 12:04 PM 9/21/2020