The Riddle of Pope Paul VI

The Communists, Socialists and other assorted left-wingers who were wildly enthusiastic about Cardinal Montini are rapidly losing their enthusiasm for Pope Paul VI. Almost immediately after his election it began to dawn on them that it had been a mistake to believe the anti-Montini propaganda put out by the ultra-conservatives. For the first time in many years, the Left has been hoist with a petard constructed by the Right!

L’Unita, the organ of the Italian Communist Party, joyfully hailed the elevation to the throne of St. Peter of “the workingman’s archbishop,” “the man who typifies the progressive group of the Roman Catholic hierarchy.” It triumphantly announced that the election of Montini represented the overthrow of the “extremist” group led by Cardinal Ottaviani.

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The Communists, Socialists and other assorted left-wingers who were wildly enthusiastic about Cardinal Montini are rapidly losing their enthusiasm for Pope Paul VI. Almost immediately after his election it began to dawn on them that it had been a mistake to believe the anti-Montini propaganda put out by the ultra-conservatives. For the first time in many years, the Left has been hoist with a petard constructed by the Right!

L’Unita, the organ of the Italian Communist Party, joyfully hailed the elevation to the throne of St. Peter of “the workingman’s archbishop,” “the man who typifies the progressive group of the Roman Catholic hierarchy.” It triumphantly announced that the election of Montini represented the overthrow of the “extremist” group led by Cardinal Ottaviani.