Folia Theologica et Canonica 9. 31/23 (2020)

Sacra theologia

POPE BENEDICT XV’S NEGOTIATIONS..

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war.27 28 This is the famous Letter Dés le Debut1*, which intended to make influence on the Governments at both sides. The Holy Father said:

“From the beginning of our Pontificate, amidst the horrors of the terrible war unleashed upon Europe, We have kept before Our attention three things above all: to preserve complete impartiality in relation to all the belligerents, as is appropriate to him who is the common father and who loves all his children with an equal affection; to endeavor constantly to do to all the most possible good, without personal exceptions and without national or religious distinctions, a duty which the universal law of charity, as well as the supreme spiritual charge entrusted to Us by Christ, dictates to Us; finally, as Our peace-making mission equality demands, to leave nothing undone within Our power, which could assist in hastening the end of his calamity, by trying to lead the peoples and their heads to more moderate frames of mind and to the calm deliberations of peace, of a “just and lasting” peace (...). Once the supremacy of law has been established, let every obstacle to the ways of communication between the peoples be removed, by ensuring through rules to be fixed in similar fashion, the true freedom and common use of the seas. This would, on the one hand, remove many reasons for conflict and, on the other, would open new sources of prosperity and progress to all.”29

The Pope listed strict terms, which included: 1) material force of arms should be substituted the moral force of law - it means only agreements by all; 2) simultaneous and reciprocal reduction of armaments; 3) the sufficient rules and guarantees must be established and maintenance of public order in each State;

4) instead of armies and institution of arbitration, according to the standards;

5) sanctions against the state which might refuse to submit international questions to arbitration, or to accept its decisions.30 He also suggested to examine the territorial questions in a “conciliatory frame of mind (...) as far as it is just and practicable” regarding the conflict between Italy and Austro-Hungary; and between Germany and France. He mentioned also Armenia31, the Balkan States, and reestablishment of the Polish Kingdom.32

Even the pope settled practical, articulated suggestions for peace negotiation, the reaction was humiliating refusal. The Entente and Central Powers basically not even reply to the Holy Father initiative (two official negative

27 Pollard, J. F., The Unknown Pope. Benedict XV (1914 - 1922) and the Pursuit of Peace, New York, NY. 1999. 117-123.

28 Benedictus XV, Litt. Dés le Début (1 aug. 1917): AAS9 (1917) 417-420.

29 Ehler, S. Z. - Morrall, J. B. (ed.), Church and State Through the Centuries, Westminster, MD. 1954. 374-376.

30 Ibid. 375-376.

31 About Armenians within the Ottoman Empire during the Great War and about the Armenian Genocide cf. Astoyan, A., The pillage of the century exploration of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire 1914-1923, Yerevan 2015. 29-64.

32 Ehler, S. Z. - Morrall, J. B. (ed.), Church and State Through the Centuries, 376.