Another problem of momentous international relations reared up in Germany. European pressure on the Reich and, as a result, the failure of the democratic system, prepared the way for Adolf Hitler. By Jan. 1933, the National Socialists (Nazis) obtained such a majority that President von Hindenburg was left no alter native but that of inviting Hitler to form a cabinet. By March 23, the Weimar Constitution was scrapped and the dictatorship entered its first stages. In the national reorganization, it was deemed advisable to draw up a revised concordat between the Vatican and the Third Reich. Cardinal Pacelli, under direction of Pius XI, and Franz von Papen, the Catholic vice-chancellor under Hitler, drew up the terms of the agreement. The concordat was pushed through for signature by July 8, 1933. Within two years, the German bishops, Cardinal Pacelli, and Pius XI were charging the Nazi Government of Hitler with violations of the concordat and were condemning the pagan and totalitarian ideology of the Nazi leaders.
Against atheistic communism, which he experienced personally in Germany, which he studied so minutely in Soviet Russia, with which he had to deal in Mexico, and most of all in Spain, Cardinal Pacelli, as secretary of State, threw the full force of his opposi tion. In this, he was one with Pius XI. He has been fearlessly outspoken against every governmental regime and every ideology that destroys the individual and social rights of man and that in vades the spiritual supremacy' of the Church. With all other nations and peoples, on the contrary, his policy has been that of conciliation and agreement. Through concordats and understand ings he has consistently striven to create the status of peace between Church and State.
Without abandoning the security that comes from tradition and conservatism, Cardinal Pacelli proved himself one of the most progressive churchmen of all times. He was not deterred by prece dent, if the flux of a rapidly changing world required readjust ments. Thus, he avails himself of, and quickly adopts, the latest inventions of our mechanized world. Even when aviation was in the experimental stages, he was an ardent flyer, and travelled by air whenever possible. He recognized the value of communication through radio. He did not adhere to the tradition that the secre tary of State should not travel abroad officially and be credited as papal legate. In 1934, against all custom, he attended, as legate, the 32nd International Eucharistic Congress at Buenos Aires, Argentina. The following year, again as legate, he closed the Holy Year Celebration at Lourdes, his visit being the first instance in a century of a secretary of State in his official capacity visiting France. In 1937, he represented Pius XI at the dedication of the Basilica of Lisieux, France. The year following, as papal legate, he took part in the 34th International Eucharistic Congress held at Budapest, Hungary.
His most exceptional and amazing tour was that to the United States. He was the first ever elected to the papacy to visit the United States, and the second ever to have crossed the Atlantic. His arrival in New York on Oct. 8, 1936, in the midst of a presi dential election campaign, occasioned the most wide-spread specu lation. Cardinal Pacelli simply stated that he came solely for a vacation and a desire to see America. After visiting the principal cities of the East, he followed the northern aeroplane route to San Francisco, with stops along the way, and returned from Los Angeles to New York across the southern lane, likewise dropping out of the air at the points of interest. He lunched with President Roosevelt at Hyde Park, N.Y., on November 5, the day following the President's re-election. On November 7, he sailed from New York, having travelled, it is estimated, some 8,000 miles, mostly by aeroplane; having visited 12 of the 16 ecclesiastical provinces ; having conferred with 79 bishops; and having met an uncounted number of Americans.
As a young man, he had attended the 19th International Euchar istic Congress in London, in 1908, and returned to England in 191' in the suite of Cardinal Granito Pignatelli di Belmonte, papal envoy at the coronation of George V. Then, as in his maturer life, he impressed everyone as a cultured gentleman, as a polished diplomat, as a statesman of deep sincerity, but most of all, as a saintly churchman.
Appointed papal chamberlain (camerlengo) in April 1935, he be came automatically the administrator of the Church in the event of an interregnum. It had become evident that Pope Pius XI was failing. Then, on Feb. 1o, 1939, a little after 5:31 in the morning, his duty required that he solemnly pronounce his dearest friend, Pius XI, to be dead, in the 81st year of his age. On Cardinal Pacelli, thereupon, devolved the responsibility of taking charge of the arrangements for the burial of the late pontiff, and of superin tending the election of the new pope.
The date set for the conclave was March 1. As papal chamber lain, Cardinal Pacelli superintended the enclosure of the 62 car dinal electors in the Vatican. He was freely spoken of as the best possible choice. His personal and priestly piety, his sincerity and rectitude, his humility and lack of selfish ambition, his sound judgement proved through forty years, his vast knowledge of dog matic and moral theology, canon law, ecclesiastical procedure and diplomacy, his intimate experience with the international problems, his affable spirit of conciliation united with his terrific courage, his oratory, his fluent speaking of seven languages and his under standing of others, his whole deportment and personality and career—all seemed to constitute him the inevitable choice. Never theless, his election was doubted.