Authorized Dispatch to The London Daily News, Sept. 27.
Although the Pope is greatly shocked and deeply grieved at the
destruction of the Rheims Cathedral, which he is convinced was entirely
unnecessary, and could easily have been averted, he still declines to
make a public statement. I am merely authorized to state that the Pope's
sorrow at the destruction of the magnificent cathedral is so great that
it is impossible for him to express it.
The Pope is convinced that his sorrow is shared not only by Catholics,
but by all Christians, since all believers in God mourn the destruction
of His temples, which even war does not justify.
A member of the Pope's entourage explained the reasons why a public
statement was not issued. He said:
The Pope's sorrow is understood, if not publicly announced. It is
inconceivable that even if the destruction of the cathedral was
necessary for strategical reasons the intensity of the Pope's
sorrow would be lessened, but a public statement implies blame,
which the Pope thinks now is inopportune and inexpedient, hence he
refrains from any comment. God's mercy is undoubted; His justice
inevitable. Time will show whether the criminal destruction of one
of the most famous of the world's cathedrals will remain
unpunished. Vengeance is God's
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