Religion: Again, HVJ

Settling down to a quiet routine after its celebrated debut last February (TIME, Feb. 23), Vatican City’s broadcasting station HVJ put Pope Pius XI on the air last week for the second time. Europe (not the U. S.) heard scholarly lectures by members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences: Rev. Father Giuseppe Gianfranceschi, director of the station, on the technical aspect of the Vatican’s radio waves; Professor Anile on the origin of languages; Professor Navas on Oriental insects. Then said His Holiness:

“It is with great pleasure that I proceed with the second inauguration of the Vatican radio station, the first being an inauguration of faith, while the second is an inauguration of science. Of both faith and science, the only altar is God. Therefore, the Vatican Council has been able to proclaim that there is no contradiction between faith and science. . . .”

Meanwhile, it became known, the Vatican has not decided to what extent it will use its station. It might employ it for extensive propaganda; it might keep in touch with Papal representatives throughout the world; it might institute a daily service, translated into many languages. And it might broadcast to all creation every Papal encyclical, every official pronouncement. In the face of inquiries last week the Vatican remained discreetly silent.