The Guild of the Pope's Peace was a short-lived Roman Catholic organisation in Great Britain opposed to the First World War. Set up in 1916 to disseminate and promote Pope Benedict XV's utterances in favour of an immediate negotiated peace, the organisation lasted for one year and produced a series of publications also memorable for their attention to typographical detail. Beyond its propagation of an anti-war stance within the British Catholic community, it was notable as an early project of founders Francis Meynell and Stanley Morison, who would later go on to become well-known typographers. [1]
Less than a month after the commencement of the First World War, in late July 1914, the reigning Pope Pius X died. His successor Benedict XV adopted a position of impartiality from his ascension, favouring immediate peace negotiations. The Guild of the Pope's Peace was established to print, distribute and promote Benedict’s appeals and writings in an effort to mobilise opposition to the war amongst Britain's Catholics. The Guild's efforts were largely unsuccessful, meeting widespread hostility from prominent English Catholics and seeing its position rejected by the Catholic hierarchy in Britain, principal Catholic laymen and the Catholic press. Contemporary pro-war hysteria in British society condemned the organisation's efforts to failure, and it disappeared roughly a year after its founding. [2] It was a forerunner of the British branch of Pax Christi, the international Catholic peace movement, via its first president E.I. Watkin who was the niece of Francis Meynell. [3]
In August 2009, the British Security Service MI5 released documents relating to the period 1916–1949, concerning "Communists and suspected Communists" operating in Britain during that time. These files, KV 2/3041-42, show that the security services were actively monitoring Francis Meynell for his anti-war activities and pro-communist sensibilities. They show how The Guild of Pope’s Peace was suspected of undermining the war effort, as well as being seen as potentially pro-German, owing to its Catholic focus. [4] [ self-published source ]
Guild of the Pope's Peace was founded by the typographer, book-designer, poet and publisher Francis Meynell – who for a time chaired the No-Subscription Fellowship – and another who would later become a celebrated typographer Stanley Morison. [5] The pair carried socialist sympathies and were active Conscientious objectors during the Great War. Morrison's appeal against conscription on religious and moral grounds was rejected in 1916 and he was eventually forced to accept alternative employment. [6] Meynell was also a contentious objector, and collapsed at Hounslow Barracks after refusing food and drink for ten days, an event that hastened his discharge. [7] He went on to found the Anglo-Russian Democratic Alliance in March 1917, was assistant editor of The Herald, subsequently The Daily Herald, and later was editor of The Communist. [8]
Pacifism is the opposition or resistance to war, militarism or violence. The word pacifism was coined by the French peace campaigner Émile Arnaud and adopted by other peace activists at the tenth Universal Peace Congress in Glasgow in 1901. A related term is ahimsa, which is a core philosophy in Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. While modern connotations are recent, having been explicated since the 19th century, ancient references abound.
Pope Benedict XV, born Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa, was head of the Catholic Church from 1914 until his death in January 1922. His pontificate was largely overshadowed by World War I and its political, social, and humanitarian consequences in Europe.
The Fellowship of Reconciliation is the name used by a number of religious nonviolent organizations, particularly in English-speaking countries. They are linked by affiliation to the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR).
Stanley Arthur Morison was a British typographer, printing executive and historian of printing. Largely self-educated, he promoted higher standards in printing and an awareness of the best printing and typefaces of the past.
The Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award is a Catholic peace award which has been given annually since 1964, in commemoration of the 1963 encyclical letter Pacem in terris of Pope John XXIII. It is awarded "to honor a person for their achievements in peace and justice, not only in their country but in the world", and has been granted to people of many different creeds.
Pax Christi International is an international Catholic peace movement. The Pax Christi International website declares its mission is "to transform a world shaken by violence, terrorism, deepening inequalities, and global insecurity".
Juli Loesch is an American anti-abortion activist, Catholic feminist, and former media coordinator for Operation Rescue in Atlanta, Georgia.
Sir Francis Meredith Wilfrid Meynell was a British poet and printer at The Nonesuch Press.
The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace was a pontifical council of the Roman Curia dedicated to "action-oriented studies" for the international promotion of justice, peace, and human rights from the perspective of the Roman Catholic Church. To this end, it cooperates with various religious institutes and advocacy groups, as well as scholarly, ecumenical, and international organizations.
Gordon Zahn was an American sociologist, pacifist, professor, and author.
Catholic peace traditions begin with its biblical and classical origins and continue on to the current practice in the twenty-first century. Because of its long history and breadth of geographical and cultural diversity, this Catholic tradition encompasses many strains and influences of both religious and secular peacemaking and many aspects of Christian pacifism, just war and nonviolence.
Opposition to World War I was widespread during the conflict and included socialists, anarchists, syndicalists and Marxists as well as Christian pacifists, anti-colonial nationalists, feminists, intellectuals, and the working class.
Pierre-Marie Théas was a French Roman Catholic bishop of Montauban and bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes. A significant figure in Catholic resistance to Nazism in France, he was recognised as Righteous among the Nations by Yad Vashem for his efforts to protect Jews from the Nazi Holocaust.
Eileen Egan (1912–2000) was a journalist, Roman Catholic activist, and co-founder of the Catholic peace group, American PAX Association and its successor Pax Christi-USA, the American branch of International Pax Christi. Starting 1943 she remained an active member of Catholic Relief Services, and a longtime friend of Dorothy Day and Mother Teresa, whose biography she wrote, Such A Vision: Mother Teresa, the Spirit, and the Work, and marched with Martin Luther King Jr. at Selma. She first coined the term "seamless garment" to describe the unity of the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church on the premise that all human life is sacred and should be protected by law.
John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan is a Nigerian prelate of the Catholic Church. He was archbishop of the Latin Church archdiocese of Abuja from 1994 to 2019 and was made a cardinal in 2012. He has served as president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria and bishop of Ilorin.
Pax Romana is an international lay Catholic movement. It combines the representation of two movements with similar interests and goals, the International Catholic Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs and the International Movement of Catholic Students. These two groups operate independently, but share the common name of Pax Romana in representation at the United Nations and UNESCO.
The World Day of Peace is an annual celebration by the Catholic Church, dedicated to universal peace, held on 1 January, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Pope Paul VI established it in 1967, being inspired by the encyclical Pacem in Terris of Pope John XXIII and with reference to his own encyclical Populorum Progressio. The day was first observed on 1 January 1968.
Harry Graham Carter was an English typographer, translator and writer. He was a well-known historian of type. He was the father of type designer Matthew Carter.
The Pax Christi International Peace Award is given out every year since 1988 by the Christian peace organisation Pax Christi to other peace organisations and peace activists. The focus lies on grassroots activists and organisations that are active in an ongoing conflict, working against violence and injustice. It is considered one of the most important peace awards awarded by international non-governmental organizations.