Consistory

Least known of the 100-odd Roman Catholic dioceses and archdioceses of the U. S. is an intangible one called the Army & Navy Diocese. Its uncounted souls are all the Catholics in the armed forces; Catholic civil employes of the military; their families. Its priesthood: 517 Catholic chaplains, active and reserve. This diocese has no bishop all to itself; its last one was the late Patrick Cardinal Hayes, Archbishop of New York.

Last week in Vatican City, at the first consistory (meeting of cardinals) of his reign, Pope Pius XII appointed a new Army & Navy bishop. He chose his most trusted U. S. servant, Most Rev. Francis Joseph Spellman, present Archbishop of New York. To do most of the active work of the chaplaincy, the Holy Father created an auxiliary bishop: Rev. John Francis O'Hara, president of Notre Dame University.*

Day after the consistory, the Vatican let it be known that the Holy Father was canceling all public audiences and most private ones until Christmas, on the advice of his physicians. The Pope was reported suffering from shock induced by his worries over world unrest.

*Maximum presidential term in most Catholic colleges is six years. Father O'Hara has served five and a half at Notre Dame, last week announced his resignation next month.

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