Religion: Crusade in Russia?

Axis hopes that the Pope would declare the Russo-German war a holy crusade against Communism were dashed by the Papal broadcast Sunday morning. Pope Pius did not even mention the new struggle in the course of his long and moving explanation of why a just and loving God permits such suffering and injustices as the war to be visited upon mankind.

In Germany itself, according to D.N.B., the official German news agency, the Roman Catholic hierarchy ranged itself behind the German Army for the first time since World War II began. Heretofore, the German bishops have steadfastly refused to order prayers for victory, but last week, says the news agency, all German priests were advised by their bishops that the war against Russia is “for the Christianity of the world” and were directed to declare from the pulpit—what was simple truth although not news—that Christianity has suffered terrible persecution under the Soviets.