A question , " Did Good Pope John save the world ?"
These days in October 1962 were not happy days .
It was the closest the world had ever come to a nuclear war .
During the crisis President Kennedy sent a message to Good Pope John XXIII . After reading it Pope John wrote a message , copies of which were delivered to the American and Russian embassies . The next day Pope John read his message on Vatican Radio . He said : " We beg all governments not to remain deaf to this cry of humanity. That they do all that is in their power to save peace. They will thus spare the world from the horrors of a war whose terrifying consequences no one can predict. That they continue discussions, as this loyal and open behaviour has great value as a witness of everyones conscience and before history. Promoting, favouring, accepting conversations, at all levels and in any time, is a rule of wisdom and prudence which attracts the blessings of heaven and earth."
On the next day the Pope’s message was printed on the front page of Pravda , the official newspaper of the Russian Communist party , with the headlines : We beg all governments not to remain deaf to this cry of humanity.
This was unprecedented . Pravda , on its front page , quoting with approval the words of a Pope !
The plea of Good Pope John XXIII had given Premier Khrushchev a chance to save face . He could withdraw the missiles from Cuba now , not out of fear but because he was a man of peace . Within two days Premier Khrushchev had agreed to withdraw the missiles , and the world gave a great sigh of relief , and the American and Russian governments started negotiations to resolve the matter .
So did Good Pope John save the world from nuclear war ? I would say that he was not the sole cause of the solution , but that he played a VERY BIG part in helping to solve it .
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These days in October 1962 were not happy days .
It was the closest the world had ever come to a nuclear war .
During the crisis President Kennedy sent a message to Good Pope John XXIII . After reading it Pope John wrote a message , copies of which were delivered to the American and Russian embassies . The next day Pope John read his message on Vatican Radio . He said : " We beg all governments not to remain deaf to this cry of humanity. That they do all that is in their power to save peace. They will thus spare the world from the horrors of a war whose terrifying consequences no one can predict. That they continue discussions, as this loyal and open behaviour has great value as a witness of everyones conscience and before history. Promoting, favouring, accepting conversations, at all levels and in any time, is a rule of wisdom and prudence which attracts the blessings of heaven and earth."
On the next day the Pope’s message was printed on the front page of Pravda , the official newspaper of the Russian Communist party , with the headlines : We beg all governments not to remain deaf to this cry of humanity.
This was unprecedented . Pravda , on its front page , quoting with approval the words of a Pope !
The plea of Good Pope John XXIII had given Premier Khrushchev a chance to save face . He could withdraw the missiles from Cuba now , not out of fear but because he was a man of peace . Within two days Premier Khrushchev had agreed to withdraw the missiles , and the world gave a great sigh of relief , and the American and Russian governments started negotiations to resolve the matter .
So did Good Pope John save the world from nuclear war ? I would say that he was not the sole cause of the solution , but that he played a VERY BIG part in helping to solve it .
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
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