The Papacy’s Claim to Peace
The assumption of the Papacy never grows less but greater. In a recent address in the Vatican to cardinals, prelates, and bishops, the pope is reported to have said: "In conformity with your wishes we ardently desire to be, as many of our predecessors were, the minister and messenger of peace to Europe and the world. We are its authorized zealous defender, because peace among individuals and among society is the daughter of Justice, which, according to Holy Writ, lives by faith and the supreme priesthood of Christianity. Being the guardian of faith and the defender of justice, invested with apostleship for unity and peace, this apostleate must be given freedom of action, and its words must be accepted without suspicion and carried home to the hearts of private citizens and governments. Then tranquility will flourish again. If peace and charity have disappeared because sight of heaven has been lost, we must not despair. Days of rest are returning through the religious awakening of the people, for at the moment marked by misery germs of faith will revive, for Christ will not abandon the humanity he redeemed." In the above is the whole system of the mystery of iniquity, which has never brought peace and never can bring peace to the world nor to any heart. This man of the Tiber says, I am the "guardian of faith;" the apostle Paul says, "Not that we have dominion over our faith." But the Bible faith and Catholic faith are entirely distinct. The one is founded in God and his word, the other simply means the dry, dead dogmas of the church.