George Matulaitis Journal

cannot err. No Pope has ever been mistaken in this respect, nor has the Rock of St. Peter ever floundered. The gates of hell have not and will not prevail against it. Christ himself—the God-Man—has said it. Heaven and earth will pass away, but His words will never pass away (cf., Lk 21:33). Whatever has been built by the hands of man in time falls apart and disappears. The invincible spears of the Roman legions have turned to dust, and the Roman Empire itself has fallen. The words of the pagan philosophers are heard no more. The terrible heresies which once, like furious waves of the sea roaring and foaming, crashed against the Rock of Peter have all been dispersed. Yet the Rock of Peter remains the same—unmoved, unfaltering. Its divine power becomes ever more evi- dent, and its glory and dignity grow ever greater. And in our time as well have we not witnessed how the most powerful thrones have come crashing down, how the most powerful states have fallen, while the Pope without an army, without any weapons, still sits upon the throne of Peter and rules the world? War-torn humani- ty more and more often turns its eyes toward him. Throughout the world, especially among intellectuals, among those who reflect more deeply, one can detect a strong reorientation toward the Faith and the Church. Just as during the times of the early Church, so throughout the ensuing ages up until now, the Pope continues to fulfill his mission as ambassador of God. While the world is drawing ever farther away from God—the Fountain of Truth—though greatly respecting scientific thought, it sinks ever deep- er into the morass of false and irrational theories. The Pope stands guard over eternal truth and unchanging principles and courageously proclaims them. While the world follows high-sounding slogans without the love of God and bases its life on selfishness and greed, promoting already deeply rooted injustices, exploitation, conquest, and violence, having no real regard for justice, the Pope as always guards the principles of justice and bravely reminds the world of them. While faith in God has declined in the world and pride and hatred have grown, as have egotistical class, party, and national strife. When the ter- rible World War touched all nations and countries, and despite the loud cries for equality and brotherhood, rivers of blood flowed in battle, only the Pope has courageously called and still calls us to love and mercy, to 351