Week 6 Class 325

The Pope begins the Easter address: To Rome and the to the World; What qualities about it reflect Roman and Universal natures of the world? How can it be both?

Being the the oldest and the largest of all...the Church is a far-reaching, powerful and omnipresence of a state within a state. According to Barzini in The Italains, "The Church is a world it itself, the most labyrinthine and complicated of all human organizations" (220). Barzini goes on to say "It obeys its own laws, it offers infinite possiblities,it protects and aids loyal followers, it solves all kinds of problems, it promotes prosperity and security of good men in all kinds of circumstances." (220).

It is possible that the Pope addresses Rome and the World, because he is seen as an international leader for Catholics througout the world. Thoughout the ages, Popes served as leaders to Rome because the Italian population wanted it this way. According to The Italians, "The Church's power was always strong, not because the Popes were great statesmen ...but because the Italians never really wanted to become the actors of their own history...and used the church...to prevent unification or when unification was achieved, to undermine and weaken it" (334).

Another reason that the Pope addresses Rome and the World is that during his Easter address, he forgives the sins of all those present in Rome and watching around the world. Trying to assist in solving all kinds of problems, universally, the Pope also calls for world peace during this addrstatesmenIt condemned breaches of an agreement signed between the Nazi government and the Church, and included criticism of Nazi ideology and, in the interpretation of some scholars, of Nazism[2] and Hitler.[ess. Pope Pius the XXII called for Italians to help Jewish citizens during WWII.(Wikipedia)

The qualities that reflect Roman as well as universal qualities can be seen in the Mit brennender Sorge, while he did not write the Mit brennender Sorge, it is credited to Pope Pius XXII. It spoke of "God-given rights" and invoked a "human nature" that went beyond national boundaries. According to Wikipedia, the Pope's Mit brennender Sorge reminded the Nazi regime that “None but superficial minds could stumble into concepts of a national God, of a national religion; or attempt to lock within the frontiers of a single people, within the narrow limits of a single race, God, the Creator of the universe, King and Legislator of all nations before whose immensity they are ‘as a drop of a bucket’ (Isaiah XL. 15).” On Easter Sunday, Cardinal Angelo Scola, talked about universal Christians. He said, "In our days the witness (martyrion) of an increasing number of christians (in Iraq, in India and in other Eastern Counties, in Africa...) arrives to the spreading of blood... We multiply ourselves every time we are reaped by you: the blood of the martyrs is the seed of new Christians." (Apol.,50,13: CCl l,17).

In the homily, Easter Sunday, Cardinal Scola speaks to Italians and many other christians present in the church about practicing an authentic faith which "derives also the beneficial contribution of the christian citizens to common life. With humble frankness they should propose, not imposing, good relation at every level, and proof in every daily life virtuous practices in the sphere of affections, of work and rest" (2).