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[Illustration: HIS HOLINESS THE LATE POPE PIUS X.
(_From a Painting by A. Muller-Ury._)]
By Pope Pius X., Kaiser Wilhelm II., President Poincare, and King
Albert of Belgium.
Official Message from Pope Pius X. at the Vatican, Aug. 2.
At this moment, when nearly the whole of Europe is being dragged
into the vortex of a most terrible war, with its present dangers
and miseries and the consequences to follow, the very thought of
which must strike every one with grief and horror, we whose care is
the life and welfare of so many citizens and peoples cannot but be
deeply moved and our heart wrung with the bitterest sorrow.
And in the midst of this universal confusion and peril we feel and
know that both Fatherly love and the Apostolic ministry demand of
us that we should with all earnestness turn the thoughts of
Christendom thither "whence cometh help"--to Christ, the Prince of
Peace, and the most powerful mediator between God and man.
We charge, therefore, the Catholics of the whole world to approach
the throne of Grace and Mercy, each and all of them, and more
especially the clergy, whose duty furthermore it will be to make in
every parish, as their Bishops shall direct, public supplication so
that the merciful God may, as it were, be wearied with the prayers
of His children and speedily remove the evil causes of war, giving
to them who rule to think the thoughts of peace and not of
affliction.
From the palace of the Vatican, the second day of August, 1914.
PIUS X. Pontifex Maximus.
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