South Bend, October 16, 1978
Like a Wildfire
The news spread like a wildfire today that a cardinal from Poland, Karol Wojtyla, has been elected as the new Pope by the conclave in Rome. This is the first time in 400 years that a non-Italian and for the first time ever that a Polish cardinal has been elected pope. Cardinal Wojtyla assumed the name John Paul II.
Admirable is the foresight of having chosen a cardinal from a communist country. There is great jubilation in the Polish community in Chicago over the news that the Archbishop of Krakow now occupies the See of St. Peter. The new Pope is said to have good knowledge of the present situation of the Catholic Church, especially in regard to the confrontation with communism in Eastern Europe. He is open-minded in matters of social concern but seems to be reserved conservative on questions of theology.
Sunday, October 22, 1978
John Paul II
Today John Paul II celebrated his first Mass on St. Peter’s Square in Rome. The nearly 300,000 faithful who had come to his inauguration gave him a spontaneous reception. This feeling of friendliness was also transmitted to the hundreds of millions of people who followed the Mass on St. Peter’s Square on television. What makes the new Pope from Poland so engaging? He radiates goodness of heart and at the same time decisiveness. He is fluent in many languages. Besides Slavic languages, he is also fluent in Italian and French, and he can communicate in German and English. He is a splendid rhetorician and he begins his high office with almost youthful energy. But above all, there is a sense of confidence that this new Pope can lead the Church into the 21st century.
South Bend, October 24, 1978
Measures Against Inflation
President Carter announced measures to fight the creeping inflation in America. He proposed that: 1) wage increases be held at 7%; 2) price increases should not surpass the 6% limit annually; and 3) the federal government declare a hiring freeze, meaning that positions becoming vacant will not be filled. Thereby, the budget deficit should be reduced. But the success of these measures depends on the voluntary cooperation of all parties involved.
The measures of Carter against inflation have been received with great skepticism because voluntary restrictions on wages and prices usually don’t work. And besides, more and more contradictions in the Carter Administration’s program are coming to light. On the one hand, it continues the welfare system that increases the deficit; and on the other hand, saving measures are proposed which have little effect. Governments abroad reacted with complete distrust of Carter’s proposals. As a consequence, the exchange rate of the dollar reached a new low.
October 25, 1978
Little Understood Abroad
Jimmy Carter is one of the American presidents who are little understood abroad. But Carter should not be underestimated. He was elected by the American people with a convincing majority. Carter corresponds more with what Americans consider themselves to be and not with what people abroad imagine the American president should be.