Decennium Dum Expletur
Encyclopedia
Decenium Dum ExpleturDecenium Dum Expletur (September 1, 1949, is an Apostolic Letter of Pope Pius XII
to the bishop
s of Poland
about the suffering of the Polish People.
The Pontiff describes his peace policies before World War Two, aimed at avoidance of the war. “Nothing is lost with peace, everything may be lost with war”. We tried everything with all means at our disposal to prevent the taking up of arms and to seek an honourable solution for all sides.
The Pope continues, that, while the German occupation and war have ended, the Church has not regained its rightful freedom, which is lamentable, in light of her many assistances to the Polish nation during the war. The time of persecution is not over. He reminds the bishops on the glorious Polish history, rich with heroism but also with pain and suffering. But in thousand years of Christianity, the Polish people never became unfaithful to Jesus Christ and his Church. He hopes that the many Polish sacrifices will eventually lead to the peace of Christ and material well being for this great nation. He concludes with his Apostolic Blessing "to this great nation, which We love so dearly".
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
to the bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
about the suffering of the Polish People.
The Pontiff describes his peace policies before World War Two, aimed at avoidance of the war. “Nothing is lost with peace, everything may be lost with war”. We tried everything with all means at our disposal to prevent the taking up of arms and to seek an honourable solution for all sides.
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- Who is able to even enumerate the sufferings of the Polish people during the long years of subjugation, the incredible loss of several million of its population, perished in the war, as consequences of war activities and in concentration camps. The enormous number of those who suffered, were injured, the great destruction of the economy, the many illegal measures of the occupiers. We see with our spirit the devastation of your country, the endless number of refugees and displaced persons, who lost their homes. Our ears still hear the sobbing of mothers and women, who mourn their beloved fallen, the lonely moaning of the aged and sick, without any assistance , the whimpering of the little ones, left by themselves, without any protection, the cries of the wounded and the death rattles of the dying.
The Pope continues, that, while the German occupation and war have ended, the Church has not regained its rightful freedom, which is lamentable, in light of her many assistances to the Polish nation during the war. The time of persecution is not over. He reminds the bishops on the glorious Polish history, rich with heroism but also with pain and suffering. But in thousand years of Christianity, the Polish people never became unfaithful to Jesus Christ and his Church. He hopes that the many Polish sacrifices will eventually lead to the peace of Christ and material well being for this great nation. He concludes with his Apostolic Blessing "to this great nation, which We love so dearly".