Catholics in Cleveland (Cont'd)

Much in the thoughts of Pope Pius XI last week were the 200,000 U. S. Roman Catholics gathered in Cleveland for the 7th National Eucharistic Congress (TIME, Sept. 30). In Public Auditorium and Municipal Stadium the pilgrims and Clevelanders attended mass after mass, went in throngs to confess their sins in 14 languages. They listened to speech after speech on such familiar Catholic themes as the wickedness of Communism and Birth Control.

The Pope in Castel Gandolfo presently caused his Secretary of State Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli to dispatch two cable-grams. To New York's Patrick Cardinal Hayes, Papal Legate, went:

HOLY FATHER PROFOUNDLY MOVED MAGNIFICENT RECEPTION ACCORDED HIS LEGATE .. . FILLED WITH SPIRITUAL JOY ADMIRATION GREAT COUNTRYWIDE OUTPOURING FAITH LOVE TOWARD EUCHARISTIC LORD IN GENERAL COMMUNION AMERICAN CATHOLICS PLEDGE ABOUNDING GRACE ABUNDANT LASTING FRUITS SENDS FROM HIS HEART YOUR EMINENCE APOSTOLIC DELEGATE BISHOP SCHREMBS AMERICAN BISHOPS PRIESTS RELIGIOUS PEOPLE PATERNAL APOSTOLIC BENEDICTION.

To Cleveland's Bishop Joseph Schrembs: MESSAGE FILIAL HOMAGE DEVOTION GRATITUDE UPON OPENING NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS BROUGHT JOY CONSOLATION PATERNAL HEART SUPREME PONTIFF STOP HIS HOLINESS DEEPLY SENSIBLE PRAYERS MASSES OFFERED HIS INTENTION DURING DAYS OF EUCHARISTIC TRIUMPH IMPARTS WITH PARTICULAR BENEVOLENCE YOUR EXCELLENCY CLERGY PEOPLE CORDIAL APOSTOLIC BENEDICTION.

Finally, in the packjammed Stadium, 20,000 Catholics formed their ranks into a reproduction of a great monstrance (altar vessel to hold the sacred Host). Followed benediction of the Blessed Sacrament by Cardinal Hayes, which was preceded by a radio broadcast by the Pope, speaking in rapid, inaudible Latin and frequently fading out entirely. Later, Catholics learned that Pius XI had said:

"With earnestness we have desired to share with you in the spiritual sweetness of this richest feast and join our prayers and intercessions with yours to obtain an ever renewed and ever greater increase of faith and Catholic life ... to deprecate the unspeakable material and moral havoc of wars and their dire aftermath of tears and sorrow; to implore that peace that is so much desired by all. peace to those that are near and to those that are far, and to supplicate at least a less intolerable burden of life for a world worn to exhaustion by the ravages of the great depression."

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