a
/451-8#.. Registered at the G.P.O., Perth, NO, 2,264
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH.
ESTABLISHED 1874.
for transmission by post as a news paper.
PERTH, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY I, 1947
'PHONE BONN 450 Hay Street,
PRICE THREEPENCE
Perth,
Box A35, G.P.O., Perth.
SEVENTY-FOURTH YEAR
Cardinal's Important Mission to Japan General MacArthur's Tribute to Catholic
cAlissionaries His Eminence Praises Conduct of Australian Troops His Eminence Cardinal Gilroy, accompanied by Bishop McCabe, of Port Augusta, returned recently to Sydney by an R.A.A.F. Liberator frying the flag of Air Vice -Marshal Graham, after fulfilling an import. ant mission to Japan. His Eminence was absent from his diocese for less than a fortnight, but in that time he travelled more than 13,000 miles by plane and train, met hundreds of prominent church. men, Occupation Force officials and Japanese, visited the ruins of dozens Qf Catholic institutions, and delivered as many as five addresses in a single day. The full story of the Cardinal's visit was told by His Eminence to the Editor of "The Catholic Weekly," Sydney, shortly after his arrival in Sydney, and is published on this page and PI6:
cestors violently persecuted the Church," said His Eminence, "After Mass we inspected the hospital and talked with many of the patients. "At 11.15 am, we were again the guests of Sir William Webb at morning tea, and on this occasion met Lieutenant-General Robert L. Eichelberger, Gommanding.General of the Eighth Army in Japan, and his Chief of Staff, Major -General Clovis Byers. "Immediately after this appointment I met representatives of the Japanese press at the Industrial Club. They asked many questions concerning the mission of the Catholic Church in Japan, but none raised any political issues. "We had lunch with the Apostolic Delegate, who introduced
us
to
French and Italian Government re. The flight to Japan, said His EmChurches in Ruins. inence, was for the most part unpresentatives in Japan." "Almost all the Catholic buildings eventful. At this point Bishop McCabe again in the city were destroyed. The interposed. "It was an excellent At Itorotal, Catholic servicemen cathedral and all the churches are lunch," he said, "but we learned were presented to him, and he ad- in rains; the minor seminary and afterwards that the Apostolic Deledressed them briefly. At Okinawa, the Apostolic Delegation are gone, five American chaplains welcomed and so are most of the schools and gate, in order to provide the beet possible for his guests, had cut off him and Bishop McCabe, and arrang. ccnvents. ed for them to celebrate Mass in his own supply of eggs by having "Thanks to the efforts of the Recthe local chapel. his two hens killed and roasted for tor, most of the Catholic Univerthe occasion." "We arrived in Tokyo slightly sity buildings were saved, but the ahead of schedule," His Eminence Sacred Heart Sisters lost 75 per One of the most important events of the Cardinal's tour was went on. cent of their buildings. "At the Haneda Air Base to meet "On my first morning in Tokyo," scheduled for that same afternoon us were His Excellency the Apos- the Cardinal continued, "I said Mass -an audience with the Emperor, tolic Delegate, Archbishop Paul Ma- at the Sacred Heart Convent, and "At 8 p.m.," said His Eminence rella; Archbishop Doi, of Tokyo; afterwards met the nuns, seven of "a former master of ceremonies of Mr. Macmahon Ball (British repre- whom are Australians. the Imperial Household escorted us sentative on the Allied Control to the residence of the Emperor. "We Were then greeted by the Council); Father Bruno Bitter, S.J. 900 girls who are being taught by "The Palace, of course, was eon. (Rector of the Catholic University the nuns. They are really remark. pletely destroyed by bombs, and the in Tokyo), General P. H Tansey, able children. Emperor now lives in a section of and Mr. Piumridge tan Australian the building housing the Ministry oC "One tiny tot, in the traditional Political officer on Mr. Macmahon kimono and obi, read an address of the Imperial Household, His Eminence Norman Thomas Cardinal Gilroy, Ball's staff). welcome, to which I responded. One "There are no longer any mini. "We were taken immediately to of the Sisters acted as interpreter. formed officials at the Emperor's Commonwealth House by Mr. Mac"That was the first of five ad- was greeted with great emotion by His 'Eminence with a bouquet of Court. All wear civilian dress, mahon Ball, who proved a most dresses which I gave that day. more than 600 students, who were chrysanthemums. European style. gracious host during our stay in the "From the convent we called on profoundly impressed by his ad"We were taken first to an ante"Everywhere we went we receivcapital, the Apostolic Delegate, who ac- dress. ed gifts of beautiful flowers," said room, and then shown into the au"That evening it was arranged companied us to the Catholic UniHis Eminence neat visited Arch. the Cardinal. dience chamber, a perfectly plain that we should see General Douglas versity, where we had lunch with bishop Doi, and was taken by him "At 6.30 that evening," 'he con. and simple room. MacArthur. We were taken to the Fathers. to meet the minor seminarians, tinued, "we were entertained at a Emperor's Welcome. General Headquarters ,and spent dinner in the Imperial Hotel, given "The Emperor entered, escorted more than half an hour with the by Sir William Webb, chairman of by two gentlemen -in-waiting, and General, the War Grimes Tribunai. immediately greeted the Apostolic "He very kindly told us we were "Among those present were the Delegate, who then presented myflee to go wherever we wanted and Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Doi, self and Bishop McCabe to His Masee everything we wanted to see. Bishop Ross, Father Bitter, Major jesty. 11+ offered no help us in every way General P. H. Tansey (Civil Pro. "The Emperor sat down and sign. His Excellency the Apostolic Delegate to Japan, Archbishop could. perty Custodian), Captain Decker, ed us to chairs near him. An interPaul Marella, received the following cablegram from the acting "General MacArthur expressed of the U.S. :Cary; preber the French and sat between the Emperor and Papal Secretary of State, Monsignor Montini, during the visit of complete satisfaction with the acthe Filipino representatives on the myself. He was a former Consul His Eminence Cardinal Gilroy to Jap n: tivities of the ecclesiastical authoriINar Crimes Tribunal, and a num- General for Japan in Sydney. "The Holy Father, acknowledging with paternal satisfaction ties in Japan. ber of U.S. chaplains. "The Emperor gave us a very your telegram informing him of the presence of Cardinal Gilroy Likes Missionaries. Continuing the story of his visit cordial welcome to Japan, and exand Bishop McCabe at the impressive celebrations in Nagasaki with the "So impressed was he to Japan, His Eminence said that pressed the hope that the sudden and Tokyo on the feast of St, Francis Xavier, cordially imparts work of the missionaries that he his third day in the country began change of climate would not be deto His Eminence, members of the Hierarchy, clergy and his be. said he hoped it would be possible with the celebration of Holy Mass trimental to oar health. loved Japanese children participating ,in pledge of his particular to send a thousand more for every at St. Mary's International Catholic "He congratulated me on my eleaffection, his Apostolic Blessing." one now in the country. Hospital, conducted by the Francis- vation to the Sacred College of Car"The General recalled his accan Missionaries of Mary. It was dinals, and expressed gratitude for "There we met Bishop Ross, who after which a number of quaintance while in Australia with ruined in the afternoon of this day that the the work dome by the Vatican for Archbishop Duhig and Archbishop was Bishop of Hiroshima until, at schools were inspected. memorable audience with the Em- Japanese prisoners -of-war and the Mannix and asked vs to convey his the request of the Japanese GovAt one school ,a temporary build- peror took place. help given to Japanese abroad. ernment, native-born priests were ing construeted at a cost of about good wishes to them. The Imperial Palace, the Cardinal "He said he hoped that the rela"Tokyo," said His Eminence, "is placed in charge of all dioceses. 1.60,000, more than one thousand revealed, was entirely destroyed tions between Australia and Japan The resides. city of ruins. "Bishop Ross visited' Australia in still a children were receiving their edu- during the bombing raids, would always be friendly. tial area for 20 miles is a scene of 1929 and 1938." cation from a Japanese Order of "Mass at the Catholic hospital "His Majesty inquired about the Students' Greeting. desolation, Sisters. was served by two aspirants to the Duke of Gloucester, recalling that: Taking up the story at this point, "One air raid alone caused 120000 One little girl read an address of .priesthood, both members of the he 'had once had the honour of reBishop McCabe said the Cardinal welcome in English and presented famous Tokugaga family, whose andeaths. (Continued on Page 16.)
Pope's Message to Japan