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Pius XI defined last week "the principle peculiar to Socialism, namely opposition to the Christian faith." Well knowing that the Catholic party of Austria calls itself the "Christian & Socialist Party" and that the largest party in Germany as in Great Britain is the Socialist party, His Holiness boldly declared: " 'Religious Socialism,' 'Christian Socialism' are expressions implying a contradiction in terms. No one can be at the same time a sincere Catholic and a true Socialist."
Thus Pius XI last week advanced and liberalized the Vatican's attitude toward Capital and Labor, but reasserted the stand of rich, world-potent Mother Church on the side of Capital against Communism, with, however, greater solicitude than ever for the toiling classes to whom Leo XIII said: "Poverty is no disgrace."
*When speaking ex-cathedra or in an encyclical, bull, etc. the Pope assumes a formal infallibility not attaching to his lesser, daily remarks.