All nations unite in mourning him MESSAGES of condolence at the death of the Pope have come into the Vatican from all over the world. Her Majesty the Queen, the Prime Minister, Mr. Macmillan, heads of state of almost every country in the free world, Cardinals, archbishops, bishops, leaders of other Christian communions, have all expressed their deep sorrow at hearing of the death of the Holy Father and have paid tribute to his memory. We print below a selection of these.
The Queen sent the following message to the British Minister to the Holy See: "The Queen commands you to convey to Mgr. Tardini an expression of the deep sorrow with which Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh have received the news of the death of His Holiness Pope Pius XII.
" This sad event has revived in Her Majesty's mind the impressive memory of her meeting with His Holiness in 1951, and the recollection of his unfailing kindness to members of the Commonwealth forces during the war years."
Premier
Mr. Harold Macmillan, who was in Bonn, said: "The world is poorer by the loss of a man who has played so great a role in the defence of spiritual values and in work for peace. It has been a grief to all of us to bear the news of the Pope's death. He had earned the respect of all mankind, whether of his faith or not."
Dr. Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury, said he wished to express his deep sympathy with the Roman Catholic Church in the loss of their beloved leader. "Through his long life, and to its very end, he served the Christian Church with conspicuous ability and devotion; and he was held in the greatest respect by all Christians for the saintliness of his character and the single-mindedness of his Christian witness."
Writing in the "Sunday Times", Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery said: "I shall always count it a privilege and an honour that I had the friendship of Pope Pius When I was with him, I always had the feeling of being in the presence of a really good man, in every sense of the true meaning in those words. .
"I am deeply grieved at the death of Pius XII. He was a great and good man, and I loved him...."
Exquisite
Mr. Alec Guinness, the actor, who was among the last to be received by the Pope in private audience, wrote in the "News of the World" last Sunday: "His hands were exquisite, and the actual manner in which he made the Sign of the Cross seemed to leave the symbol of the Cross lingering calmly and eternally in the air...."
FRANCE: General de Gaulle, in a formal message of sympathy to the Sacred College. said: "I ask Your Eminences to accept my personal condolences and the expression of my grief-stricken sympathy. At the twilight of this great and
illustrious pontificate, during which humanity has known the most terrible trials, I evoke with emotion and respect the lofty figure of Pius XII, whose fervent example inspired so many men with courage and hope."
President Coty sent a similar message.
SPAIN: General Franco sent a message to the Vatican expressing his "profound personal sentiment And that of the Spanish people for the terrible sorrowful loss to the Church".
Heavy loss
GERMANY: President Heuss, in a message to Cardinal 'I isserant, Dean of the Sacred College, said: "The death of His Holiness Pope Pius XII . . . moves the souls of all men, to whatever communion they belong, who are aware of the religious, social and charitable, and moral and political work of this venerable man."
Dr. !Konrad Adenauer, in a telegram to Cardinal Tisserant, said: -The news of the death of His Holiness Pope Pius XII has affected me most deeply. Filled with grief and sadness, 1 offer Your Eminence my deepest sympathy in the name of the Federal Government and in my own name at the heavy loss which has affected not only the Church but all mankind.
"In a period when gravest convulsions of a religious, social and political nature affected the world, the late Pope guided the fortunes of the Church with awe-inspiring wisdom and gave the world a shining example."
ITALY: President Gronchi, in a telegram to Cardinal Tisserant. expressed the deepest condolence of all the people of Italy for the "great Pope and heroic Bishop of Rome".
Sympathy
ISRAEL: Mrs. Golda Meir, the Israeli Minister for Foreign Affairs, said that in a time of trouble the Pope had preserved the highest ideals of peace and charity. "When our people, during the 10 years of the sklazi terror, underwent a fearful martyrdom, the voice of the Pope was raised to condemn the tyrant and to ex press sympathy for the victim. Our epoch has been enriched by this voice, which rose above the tumult and every-day conflicts in the name of the great moral values."
U.S.A.: President Eisenhower said: His was a full life of devotion to God and service to his fellow men. I was privileged to know him personally. With men of goodwill everywhere, I mourn his passing. The world is poorer because of his death."
CANADA: Mr. Diefenbaker said: "The death of this gentle and studious man of peace removes from the world one who had the respect of multitudes. His efforts to the last were directed to the great goal of peace on earth. All our thoughts turn at this time to the sad loss the Roman Catholic world has suffered."
AUSTRALIA: Mr. Meneies said: "Title Pope was not only the greatly loved leader of his own Church throughout the world, but he was in every way a great man. He was a great Christian leader whose standards, expressed so vividly in his work, commanded deep respect. He was also a world statesman whose constant advocacy for peace, and whose resolute opposition to disruptive forces. was appreciated by men of all religious faiths and lovers of freedom the world over."
PHII.IPPINES: President Garcia said: -His greatest dedication was in the promotion of Catholic Action, as well as the promotion of peace between nations and in the condemnation of atheist and pagan totalitarianism." SINGAPORE: Mr. Lim Yew Hock said the world would be poorer for the loss of the Pope, "this great religious leader who in difficult times has stood for the recognition of the place of religion in world affairs".
EGYPT: President Nasser described the death of the Holy Father as a great loss.
MOROCCO: King Mohammed said that the news "strikes not only Christianity but all humanity, for whom His Holiness gave himself without stint so that peace might reign among peoples."
CYPRUS: Archbishop Makarios, expressing his sorrow at the death of the Pope, said in Athens: "The Pope was a great personality. His death leaves a vacuum."
U.N.O.: Mr. Charles Malik, President of the General Assembly, described the death of the Pope as one of the most tragic occurrences of our time, and said: "Pope Pius XII has done more for peace in the world than any other statesman."
Mr. Dag Hammarskjold, the Secretary General, said: -With the death of His Holiness Pius XII mankind loses one of its noblest sons and one of its greatest leaders."
AUSTRIA: Herr Julius Raab described the Pope as a man who had regarded it as his task to work for the peace and prosperity of mankind. History would number him among the most distinguished Popes who had ever occupied the throne of Peter.