Pope Pius Praises Mundelein, Who Ridiculed Hitler

POPE PIUS LAST WEEK WARMLY PRAISED CARDINAL MUNDELEIN OF CHICAGO, WHO CALLED ADOLF HITLER “AN AUSTRIAN PAPERHANGER AND A POOR ONE AT THAT.”

THE POPE’S STATEMENT WAS MADE UNEXPECTEDLY TO A GROUP OF CHICAGO PILGRIMS DURING A PUBLIC AUDIENCE. HE CALLED CARDINAL MUNDELEIN A DEFENDER OF THE CHURCH. HIS REMARKS WERE TAKEN AS AN INDORSEMENT OF THE CARDINAL’S STATEMENT, WHICH HAD RESULTED IN ANGRY PROTESTS FROM GERMANY TO THE VATICAN AND THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.