Station HVJ

Ad Universam Creaturam: "Quia arcano Dei consilio succedimus in locum Principis Apostolorum, corum nempe quorum doctrina et praedicatio jussu divino ad omnes gentes et omnem creaturam destinata est et quia primi in loco ipso mira sane ope Marconiana uti fruipossumus, ad omnia et omnes primo nos convertimus, atque, hie et infra, sacro textu juvante, dicimus:

"'Aduite caeli quae loquor, audiat terra verba oris mei.

"'Audite haec omnes gentes, auribus percipite omnes qui habitatis orbem, simul in unum dives et pauper.

"'Audite insulae et attendite populi de longe ad Deum. . . .'"

All Creation, save Russians and savages listened raptly to the tremulous Latin of Pope Pius 261st authentic Roman Pontiff, when last week he inaugurated Vatican City's radio broadcasting Station HVJ. The Soviet Government had for bidden Soviet stations' rebroadcasting the speech. The savages lacked receiving sets. But all other peoples hearkened. Devout Catholics fell to their knees at the radioed sound of the Pontiff's revered voice. Non-Catholics listened intently, musing on the significance of this most modern manifestation of Roman Catholic extension.

The date was Feb. 12--Lincoln's Birthday for some 123,000,000 U. S., inhabit ants, ninth anniversary of Achille Ambrogio Damiano Ratti's coronation as Pope Pius XI for 331,500,000 Roman Catholics the world over.* The U. S. through the National Broadcasting and the Columbia Broadcasting Companies assisted the Pope mightily by hooking up some 150 stations in the U. S. and Canada and relaying the papal words to nations which Vatican City's station HVJ was unable to reach clearly. The hookup was the most widespread and the most intricate in radio's experience.

Ceremonies began toward evening in Rome, toward noon Eastern Standard time in the U. S. (time differential between Rome and Washington, six hours).

The Pope's red motor car carried him, seated in his gilded, damask-covered motor throne, from the Vatican Palace, over the graveled roads of the Vatican gardens to the small, redbrick, garden-surrounded broadcasting station.

Guglielmo Marconi, inventor of wire less, Senator and Marchese of Italy, builder of station HVJ, great & good friend of His Holiness, fell to his knees, kissed the papal ring. The Pope was smiling, showed traces of excitement. The Mar chese Marconi and entourage entered the small building over a thick red-and-blue carpet. Whimsically His Holiness threw in switches which set electrical devices in motion; he tapped a wireless key, punched a teletypewriter's keys, proceeded to the transmitting room where from a throne he spoke to All Creation.

At first his voice trembled with both the novelty and the import of the occasion. Quickly, however, his cadenced Latin gained measured speed. Latin adepts had difficulty keeping up with his racing thoughts and Italian pronunciation. As soon as he finished, translators, who had stood by him, vernacularized in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Polish the substance of his message which began:

To All Creation: "Having in God's mysterious designs become the successor of the Prince of the Apostles, those Apostles whose doctrine and preaching were by Divine command destined for all nations and for every creature, and being the first in that position to use and employ this truly wonderful Marconian invention, we turn first to all things and all people and with the assistance of the holy scripture, here and in what follows, we say:

" 'Hear, o ye heavens, the things I speak; let the earth give ear to the words of my mouth.

" 'Hear these things all ye nations; give ear all ye inhabitants of the world, both rich and poor together.

" 'Give ear ye islands, and hearken ye people from afar to God.' "

After exhorting All Creation His Holiless proceeded to address, from the Roman Catholic premise, the various grades of humanity:

Ad Catholicos (To Catholics) : "Turning now to men: The Apostle commands us to do good to all men, especially to those of the household of faith. . . . We are pleased, therefore, to speak, in the first place to all such, namely, to those who have been received in the Master's family and the Master's fold of the Catholic Church and dwell there, and call us by the loving name of Father. . . ."

Ad Hierarchiam (To the Hierarchy): "We address you our fellow-laborers, Cardinals of the Most Holy Roman Church, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, prelates and priests of the various orders of the hierarchy, chief objects of our daily solicitude as well as sharers and helpers in our labors. We beg and exhort each one of you to persevere in the vocation in which he was called, and that you walk worthily in the vocation in which you were called: feed the flock of God which is among you, being made an example for the flock in your souls, so that when the Prince of Shepherds shall appear you may receive a never-fading crown of glory. . . ."

Ad Religiosos (To the Religious--i. e., monks, nuns): "We now speak to you, sons and daughters of our love, who, eager for the nobler graces, by the pledge of your holiest vows and by a lifelong religious discipline, faithfully obey, not merely the commandments, but also the desires and the counsels of your Divine King and Spouse. You fill God's Church with the fragrance of your chastity, you glorify her by your contemplations, you support her by your prayers, you enrich her with your learning and knowledge, you beautify and perfect her from day to day by the ministry of the word and by apostolic labors. . . ."

Ad Missionarios (To Missionaries): "Now our words go out to you, our dearest sons and daughters in Christ, who in mission fields are laboring in prayer to propagate the Holy Faith of Christ and to spread His kingdom. As the first Apostles of the Churches, so you too 'by dangers, by great patience, by necessities, by tribulations,' are made an example. . . ."

Ad Fidcles Universes (To All the Faithful) : "Our heart is opened to you all. . . . Like the first believers, men and women, whom the Apostle for that reason praises, you are God's people and the sheep of His fold. You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy family. . . ."

Ad Infidels et Dissidentes (To Unbelievers and Dissenters): "To you also who are still separated from the faith and the unity of Christ our thoughts and our prayers are turned. Daily, indeed, do we offer prayers and sacrifices for you to the God and Lord of all, earnestly beseeching Him to illuminate you with His light and to lead and unite you to those sheep who hear His voice, that there may be 'one fold and one Shepherd.' "

Other categories followed fast. Those Who Rule (Ilii Qui Praesunt) the Pope urged "to govern in justice and in charity." Those Who Are Ruled (Qui Subsunt) he admonished to "be obedient, not as to men but as to God." To the Rich (Divitibus) "Christ Jesus himself has confided the poor." Concerning 'the Poor (Paitperibtis) "whilst they are endeavoring to better their condition, as morally they may, let them . . . not stretch forth their hands to iniquity." "We earnestly entreat Laborers and Employers (Operariis et Datoribus Operum) to put aside hostile rivalry and strife and unite in friendly and brotherly accord. . . ." To the Afflicted and So On (Afflictis, etc.) he offered "our prayers and as far as possible our help."

His last words: "Restat ut Urbi et Orbi, atque omnibus in eis habitantibus benedictionem apostolicam impertiamus; quod et facimus in nomine Patris et filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen."

While exalted translators vulgarized this Latin, His Holiness leisurely proceeded to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. There in swift Italian he broadcast a laudation of Guglielmo Marconi, who was being made a member of that Academy. Emotionally did His Holiness praise:

"I must express the feeling of thankfulness which is in my heart and which must abide in every one's heart for the glorious achievement of Marchese Marconi,but this deep sentiment, these words of thanks, belong above all to Almighty God and to the men who have become instrumental in carrying out His great designs, His divine will. . . .

"May the blessings of God accompany him and render his invention worthy of all the good which we wish for those who have done us good."

A noteworthy occurrence during the lengthy broadcasting of the Pope's two speeches, the translations thereof, and the less exalted addenda thereto: the chief radio interference happened while the Pontiff spoke.* General was the surmise that some European station or stations had cut into his radio channel.

* In the U. S., ,18,605,003.

* Because the devout of a number of countries complained of poor reception, His Holiness ordered the vernacular versions of his message repeated from Station HVJ this week.

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