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1. The passion of Our Redeemer,
rendered present, as it were to us during these days of Holy Week, makes the
minds of Christians turn with deepest reverence to that land which Divine
Providence willed to be the cherished home-country of the Word Incarnate, and
in which Christ Jesus lived His earthly life, shed His blood and died.
2. Yet at the present time, as We recall the memory of those Holy Places with more ardent
devotion, Our heart is full to overflowing with keenest anxiety because of the
difficulty and uncertainty of the situation which there prevails.
3. During this past year, We have
urged you insistently, Venerable Brethren, in successive letters, that all
should join in public prayer to implore the cessation of hostilities which have
brought destruction and death in that land, and settlement of the dispute on
principles of justice, which would fully safeguard the freedom of Catholics and
at the same time provide guarantees for the safety of those most Holy Places.
4. And now that hostilities have
ended, or at least have been suspended after the recent truce, We offer Our most sincere and heartfelt thanks to God and
voice Our emphatic approval of the labor of those
whose noble efforts have contributed towards the re-establishment of peace.
5. But although the actual fighting is
over, tranquillity or order in Palestine is still very far from having been
restored. For We are still receiving complaints from those who have every right
to deplore the profanation of sacred buildings, images, charitable
institutions, as well as the destruction of peaceful homes of religious
communities. Piteous appeals still reach Us from
numerous refugees, of every age and condition, who have been forced by the
disastrous war to emigrate and even live in exile in concentration camps, the
prey to destitution, contagious disease and perils of every sort.
6. We are not unmindful of the
considerable aid contributed by public and private agencies for relief of these
suffering thousands; and We Ourselves, continuing the work of charity,
organized from the beginning of Our Pontificate, have left nothing undone,
within Our means, to meet the more urgent needs of
this same unhappy multitude.
7. But the condition of these exiles
is so critical and unstable that it cannot longer be permitted to continue.
While, therefore, We encourage all generous and noble souls to put forth their
best effort to aid these homeless people in their sorrow and destitution, We
make an earnest appeal to those responsible that justice may be rendered to all
who have been driven far from their homes by the turmoil of war and whose most
ardent desire now is to lead peaceful lives once more.
8. During these holy days this is Our
fondest hope, and likewise that of all Christian peoples: that peace may
finally shed its light over the land where He, Who is called by the Sacred
Prophets, "the Prince of Peace" (Is. 9: 6) and by the Apostle of the
Gentiles Peace Itself (Eph. 2: 14), lived His life and shed His blood.
9. We have never ceased to pray
repeatedly for this enduring and genuine peace. And to the end that it might be
brought to fruition and permanence at the earliest possible moment, We have
already insisted in Our Encyclical letter In Multiplicibus,
that the time has come when Jerusalem and its vicinity, where the previous
memorials of the Life and Death of the Divine Redeemer are preserved, should be
accorded and legally guaranteed an "international" status, which in
the present circumstances seems to offer the best and most satisfactory
protection for these sacred monuments.
10. We cannot help repeating here the
same declaration, encouraged by the thought that it may also serve as an
inspiration to Our children. Let them, wherever they
are living, use every legitimate means to persuade the rulers of nations, and
those whose duty it is to settle this important question, to accord to
Jerusalem and its surroundings a juridical status whose stability under the
present circumstances can only be adequately assured by a united effort of
nations that love peace and respect the right of others.
11. Besides, it is of the utmost
importance that due immunity and protection be guaranteed to all the Holy
Places of Palestine not only in Jerusalem but also in the other cities and
villages as well.
12. Not a few of these places have
suffered serious loss and damage owing to the upheaval and devastation of the
war. Since they are religious memorials of such moment - objects of veneration
to the whole world and an incentive and support to Christian piety - these
places should also be suitably protected by definite statute guaranteed by an
"international" agreement.
13. We are well aware of the intense
desire of Our children, following the ancient
tradition, to go on pilgrimage once more to these places from which they were
barred by the general disturbed conditions. The Year of Atonement which is at
hand increases all the more these desires; it is only natural that during this
period the faithful should be more eager than ever to visit that land which was
the scene of our Divine Redemption. God grant that these longings be satisfied
as soon as possible.
14. To bring about this happy result,
it will be necessary, or course, to make such arrangements as will allow
pilgrims to approach freely those sacred edifices; enabling each to profess his
devotion openly and without hindrance, and to remain there free from fear and
danger. It must also be considered objectionable that pilgrims should see these
places profaned by sinful and worldly entertainments, which are assuredly an offense to the Divine Redeemer and to the Christian
conscience.
15. Moreover, We very much desire that
the many Catholic institutions which have been erected in Palestine to help the
poor, to educate youth and give hospitality to visitors, may be enabled, as is
fitting, to carry on unimpeded the work they did so laudably in the past.
16. Nor can We
omit to point out that all rights to the Holy Places, which Catholics during
many centuries have acquired and time and again defended valiantly, and which
Our predecessors have solemnly and effectively vindicated, should be preserved
inviolate. These, Venerable Brethren, are the considerations We
wished to put before you.
17. Encourage the faithful committed to
your charge to be ever more concerned about the conditions in Palestine and have them make their lawful
requests known, positively and unequivocally, to the rulers of nations. But let
them especially implore unceasingly the help of Him, Who is the Ruler of Men
and Nations. May God look down with mercy on the whole world, but particularly
on that land which was bedewed with the Blood of the Incarnate Word, so that
the charity of Jesus Christ, which alone can bring tranquillity and peace, may
conquer all hatred and strife.
18. Meantime, may the Apostolic
Blessing, which We lovingly impart to you, Venerable
Brethren, and to all your flock, be a pledge of heavenly gifts and a token of
our affection.
Given at Rome, St. Peter's the fifteenth day of
the month of April, Good Friday, in the year 1949, the eleventh of Our
Pontificate.
PIUS XII
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