News of the French Hierarchy

Cardinal of the Soup Kitchens
Kipa, a Swiss Catholic agency, has news of the Hierarchy of France. It learns that Mgr. Florent du Bios de la Villerabel, former Bishop of Annecy, France, who was elevated to the Archdiocese of Aix on May 11, has taken possession of his See. The installation ceremony occurred in the Basilica of Aix about a month ago and was witnessed by civil and military authorities.
Cardinal Verdier, the predecessor of Cardinal Suhard as Archbishop of Paris, was known as the " Cardinal of the Scaffolds " because of his extensive building plan to provide necessary churches. and chapels and also to provide employment at a critical time.
Cardinal Suhard's popular title so far is " Cardinal of the Soup Kitchens." His Eminence was visiting refugees from his former Archdiocese of Rheirns when he learned that Paris was in danger. He hastened back to the capital and since that time has been doing everything he can to allay the sufferings of people regardless of creed. He is being assisted primarily by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.
ONLY CARDINAL IN UNOCCUPIED FRANCE Cardinal Gerlier, Archbishop of Lyons, left Lyons about the middle of July to visit Paris, where he was to confer with Cardinal Suhard in an endeavour to find some solution for the many problems that the present status of France entails.
On his return from Paris, Cardinal Gerlier had a conference with Marshal Petain at Vichy. He is the only one of the five French Cardinals dwelling in unoccupied France. Expressing his views on the future relations between Church and state, Mgr. Gerlier said: " We all feel that the national restoration requires the vigorous restoration of all moral values. To conquer materialism, the mischief of which we see once more, the spiritual forces, and this means in France the Christian religion, are needed."
Later the Cardinal wrote in his pastoral letter: " The Church asks for no monopoly, no privilege, but claims equal justice for all and liberty; she wishes to serve the country ; her ambition is to prepare better Ctizens.
" The public schools must scrupulously respect the soul of the child. As for the free (Catholic) schools, they must be put at the disposal of the Christian families and be provided with a more equitable subsidy.
" Besides the schools, it should be noted that all Catholic Action has contributed to the building of character, to social service and to true patriotism. The Ancien Etat would have acted wisely if it had acknowledged this assistance and given more co-operation."—N.C.W.C.