Folia Theologica et Canonica 9. 31/23 (2020)
Sacra theologia
64 SZABOLCS ANZELM SZUROMI, O.PRAEM. Opera dei Prisoneieri for the last period of the war, which was arranged into four sections: 1) general cases; 2) taking care of pastoral help of prisoners by sending priests but also pastors from other denominations (it was supplied with bishop and nuncio visits [i.e. Brussels, Munich, Vienna] of the prisonercamps); 3) particular attention on young-wounded soldiers; 4) special care of prisoners with large families. It is well known that Switzerland took a very important role in Pope Benedict XV’s humanitarian activity. It includes the so-called “Papal Train” which signifies that several transports arranged by the Holy Father which carried until January 1917 more than 26.000 prisoner-soldiers and more than 3.000 civilian to Switzerland for hospital treatment or for sanatorian-rehabilitation. However, it did not work for Austro-Hungarian and Italian indigents, because the political situation. Finally, I like to mention here the famine problem, which belonged to Benedict agenda to be release, in particular regarding children with the help of USA in several countries. III. Interest in the survival of the Austro-Hungarian Empire For the Holy See the survival of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was crucial in order to keep a religious and geopolitical balance in Europe.16 Pietro Gasparri on January 12th 1915 wrote to Scapinelli, nuncio in Vienna: “At this moment, the Holy Father, who has the greatest of concern for the existence of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy due to a particular affection towards it and its August and Venerable Sovereign, as well as the highest interest of the Church itself, notably the survival of the only Catholic great power, not to mention peace in Italy, wishes to open his heart to the Emperor, through your good offices, advising him in the strongest possible terms to avoid war with Italy at all costs.”17 We must notice that Hungarian soldiers - following the phrase of Ferenc Pollmann - were present at every military stage of the Great War.18 After the death of Emperor Franz-Joseph II on November 21st 1916 the new Emperor, Karl I appeared more concerned in peace negotiation, while the Austro-Hungarian forces had a strong dependence on the German Army. Karl I did not want to see the already most possible conclusion of the war, the final collapse of the Empire. For Benedict XV it seemed a good timing to promote peace through Austro-Hungary, the last Christian power in Europe. It was also the time when Germany in the name of Austro-Hungary, together with Bulgaria 16 Pollard, J. R, The Unknown Pope. Benedict XV, 97. 17 ASV, SS, Guerra, 1914-1918, rub. 244, fasc. 29 (Gasparri to Scapinelli: January 12th 1915). 18 Pollmann, R, Magyarország és az első világháború, in Király, B. - Veszprémy, L. (ed.), A magyar hadtörténelem évszázadai, Budapest 2003. 215-224, especially 219.
