Pope Pius XI last night delivered a fresh assault against racial theories, newly adopted by Italian fascism, as “detestable” and contrary to the creed of the catholic church. Addressing 200 priests of the italian catholic Youth and catholic Action, the Pontiff condemned racism, declaring the church is by its nature universal and not separatist.
“It would seem,” the Pope Said, “that the article of the creed, ‘credo in Ecclesiam Catholicism,’ has been forgotten. ‘Catholic’ is universal, not racist, nor nationalist, nor separatist, but catholic. That is what the Catholic Action should be. There is something detestable in this spirit of separatism and exaggerated nationalism which, precisely because it is not Christian, ends by not being human. This should serve to shed light for you on the mission which the church confides to you in calling you as assistants of the Catholic Action.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
