Editing Pope Benedict XV (section)

== Writings ==
During his seven-year pontificate, Benedict XV wrote a total of twelve [[encyclical]]s. In addition to the encyclicals mentioned, he issued ''In hac tanta'' on St. Boniface (14 May 1919), ''Paterno iam diu'' on the Children of Central Europe (24 November 1919), ''Spiritus Paraclitus'' on St. Jerome (September 1920), ''Principi Apostolorum Petro'' on St. Ephram the Syrian (5 October 1920), ''Annus iam plenus'' also on Children in Central Europe (1 December 1920), ''Sacra propediem'' on the Third Order of St. Francis (6 January 1921), ''[[In praeclara summorum]]'' on Dante (30 April 1921), and ''Fausto appetente die'' on St. Dominic (29 June 1921).{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

His [[Apostolic Exhortation]]s include ''Ubi primum'' (8 September 1914), ''Allorché fummo chiamati'' (28 July 1915) and ''Dès le début'' (1 August 1917). The [[Papal bulls]] of Benedict XV include ''Incruentum Altaris'' (10 August 1915), ''Providentissima Mater'' (27 May 1917), ''Sedis huius'' (14 May 1919), and ''Divina disponente'' (16 May 1920). Benedict issued nine [[Breve|Briefs]] during his pontificate: ''Divinum praeceptum'' (December 1915), ''Romanorum Pontificum'' (February 1916), ''Cum Catholicae Ecclesiae'' (April 1916), ''Cum Biblia Sacra'' (August 1916), ''Cum Centesimus'' (October 1916), ''Centesimo Hodie'' (October 1916), ''Quod Ioannes'' (April 1917), ''In Africam quisnam'' (June 1920), and ''Quod nobis in condendo'' (September 1920).{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

=== ''Ad beatissimi Apostolorum'' ===
''[[Ad beatissimi Apostolorum]]'' is an [[encyclical]] of Benedict XV given at St. Peter's, Rome, on the Feast of All Saints on 1 November 1914, in the first year of his pontificate. This first encyclical coincided with the beginning of [[World War I]], which he labeled "The Suicide of Civilized Europe." Benedict described the combatants as the greatest and wealthiest nations of the earth, stating that "they are well-provided with the most awful weapons modern military science has devised, and they strive to destroy one another with refinements of horror. There is no limit to the measure of ruin and of slaughter; day by day the earth is drenched with newly shed blood and is covered with the bodies of the wounded and of the slain."<ref>''Ad beatissimi Apostolorum'', 3</ref>

In light of the senseless slaughter, the pope pleaded for "peace on earth to men of good will" (Luke 2:14), insisting that there are other ways and means whereby violated rights can be rectified.<ref>''Ad beatissimi Apostolorum'', 4</ref>

The origin of the evil is a neglect of the precepts and practices of Christian wisdom, particularly a lack of love and compassion. Jesus Christ came down from Heaven for the very purpose of restoring among men the Kingdom of Peace, as He stated, "A new commandment I give unto you: That you love one another."<ref>(John 14:34);</ref> This message is repeated in John 15:12, in which Jesus says, "This is my commandment that you love one another."<ref>(John 15:12);</ref> [[Materialism]], nationalism, racism, and [[class conflict|class warfare]] are the characteristics of the age instead, so Benedict XV described:
* "Race hatred has reached its climax; peoples are more divided by jealousies than by frontiers; within one and the same nation, within the same city there rages the burning envy of class against class; and amongst individuals it is self-love which is the supreme law over-ruling everything."<ref>''Ad beatissimi Apostolorum'', 7</ref>

=== ''Humani generis redemptionem'' ===
The encyclical ''[[Humani generis redemptionem]]'', from 15 June 1917, deals with blatant ineffectiveness of Christian preaching. According to Benedict XV, there are more preachers of the Word than ever before, but "in the state of public and private morals as well as the constitutions and laws of nations, there is a general disregard and forgetfulness of the supernatural, a gradual falling away from the strict standard of Christian virtue, and that men are slipping back into the shameful practices of paganism."<ref>Humani generis redemptionem 2</ref> The Pope squarely put part of the blame on those ministers of the Gospel who do not handle it as they should. It is not the times but the incompetent Christian preachers who are to blame, for no one today can say for sure that the Apostles were living in better times than ours. Perhaps, the encyclical states, that the Apostles found minds more readily devoted to the Gospel, or they may have met others with less opposition to the law of God.<ref>Humani generis redemptionem 3</ref>

As the encyclical tells, first are the Catholic bishops. The [[Council of Trent]] taught that preaching "is the paramount duty of Bishops."<ref>[Sess., xxiv, De. Ref., c.iv]</ref> The Apostles, whose successors the bishops are, looked upon the Church as something theirs, for it was they who received the grace of the Holy Spirit to begin it. Saint Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Christ sent us not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel."<ref>[I Cor. i:17]</ref> Council of Trent Bishops are required to select for this priestly office those only who are "fit" for the position, i.e. those who "can exercise the ministry of preaching with profit to souls." Profiting souls does not mean doing such "eloquently or with popular applause, but rather with spiritual fruit."<ref>Humani generis redemptionem 7</ref> The Pope requested that all the priests who are incapable of preaching or of hearing confession be removed from the position.<ref>Humani generis redemptionem 9</ref>

=== ''Quod iam diu'' ===
''[[Quod iam diu]]'' was an encyclical given at Rome at St. Peter's on 1 December 1918, in the fifth year of his Pontificate. It requested that, after [[World War I]], all Catholics of the world pray for a lasting peace and for those who are entrusted to make such during peace negotiations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Quod Iam Diu (December 1, 1918) {{!}} BENEDICT XV |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xv/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xv_enc_01121918_quod-iam-diu.html |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=www.vatican.va}}</ref>

The pope noted that true peace has not yet arrived, but the Armistice has suspended the slaughter and devastation by land, sea and air.<ref>''Quod iam diu'', 1</ref> It is the obligation of all Catholics to "invoke Divine assistance for all who take part in the peace conference," as the encyclical states. The Pope concludes that prayer is essential for the delegates who are to meet to define peace, as they are in need of much support.<ref>''Quod iam diu'', 2</ref>

=== ''Maximum illud'' ===
''[[Maximum illud]]'' is an [[Ecclesiastical letter#Letters of the popes in modern times|apostolic letter]] of Benedict XV issued on 30 November 1919, dealing with the Catholic missions. After reminding bishops of their responsibility to support the missions, he advised missionaries not to regard the mission as their own but to welcome others to the task and to collaborate with those around them. He underlined the necessity of proper preparation for the work in foreign cultures and the need to acquire language skills before doing such work, especially in the Orient. He tells missionaries that: "Especially among the infidels, who are guided more by instinct than by reason, preaching by example is much more profitable than that of words". He requested a continued striving for personal sanctity and praised the selfless work of women religious in the missions.<ref>''Maximum illud'', 30</ref> "Mission", however, "is not only for missionaries, but all Catholics must participate through their apostolate of prayer, by supporting vocations, and by helping financially."<ref>Maximum Illud 30–36</ref> The letter concludes with the naming of several organizations which organize and supervise mission activities within the Catholic Church.<ref>''Maximum illud'', 37–40</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xv/it/apost_letters/documents/hf_ben-xv_apl_19191130_maximum-illud.html|title=Maximum illud (30 novembre 1919) {{!}} BENEDETTO XV|website=w2.vatican.va|access-date=20 December 2017}}</ref>