Joys & Sorrows

Escorted by Swiss and Noble Guards in full uniform, Pope Pius XI and his papal court entered Consistory Hall in the Vatican one day last week. There he received the Christmas felicitations of a score of cardinals, delivered in a speech by Gennaro Granito Cardinal Pignatelli di Bel-nionte, 81, dean of the Sacred College. As is his wont, Pius XI made reply.

From April 2 (Passion Sunday), 1933 to April 2, 1934 is by papal proclamation to be a special holy year,* celebrating the 1900th anniversary of the death of Jesus Christ. "We are not sure," said the Pope, "whether the anniversary should fall in 1933 or 1934. However, we proclaim it now because we wish to give bishops, priests and the faithful time to prepare. . . . The year 1933 is generally associated in the minds of simple citizens with 33 A. D., when Christ is believed to have died. . . . Uncertainty takes away nothing from the greatness of the infinite number of benefits we have received. If the men of 2033 find more certain calculations for fixing the exact date they will know how to do their duty as we do ours now.

. . . What more glorious centenary celebration can there be than this, especially at a time when celebrating centenaries has become fashionable and many events of limited importance are honored with celebrations? ... It will be of great benefit, especially as the world then will not hear only about conflicts, disarmaments, reparations, debts, debt postponements, defaults, economic and financial crises and individual and social miseries . . . but instead those of high spirituality and strong appeal to life and the interests of the souls. . . ."

As his Christmas wish to the world Pius XI sent prayers for "peace, tranquillity, mutual confidence, friendly relations, greater assistance wherever are the greatest needs, sufficient remunerative work and less unfavorable and uncertain general conditions of life."

By ancient custom the pope lists his joys & sorrows of the year. Joys for Pius XI were: the spread of missions; Catholic Action; the Eucharistic Congress in Dublin (TIME, June 20); the completion of the new Vatican art gallery; increasingly friendly relations with the Italian government: felicitations on his 75th birthday last May; the agreement between Bolivia and Paraguay to cease fighting for 24 hours at Christmas (see p. 16).

Papal sorrows: church difficulties in Mexico, Russia, Spain (see p. 15); economic distress throughout the world; the deaths of Cardinals Piffl of Vienna and Van Rossum of Holland.

For a Christmas present Pius XI got 1,000,000 lire ($51,150), raised among Roman Catholics throughout the world.

Holy years, or jubilees, are usually held every 25 years. The last was in 1925. The Pope opens a walled-up door of St. Peter's at the beginning, closes it at the end. The other three Roman Basilicas are opened by Cardinals. Throughout the year, special services are held in all Roman Catholic churches, with special spiritual favors to those who attend.

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