From Our Vaults 80 Years Ago: May 16, 1945

by Admin · Published May 16, 2025 · Updated May 15, 2025

Pope on end to war in Europe

In a radio broadcast marking the end of the world war in Europe, Pope Pius XII spoke on behalf of the fallen soldiers who admonish us: “Let the architects of a new and better Europe arise from our bones and graves and the earth upon which we are scattered like seeds of corn.”

Catholics imprisoned at Dachau

Many Catholics were imprisoned in the Dachau concentration camp near Munich, including “the famous Jesuit, Fr [Rupert] Mayer of Cologne, who was in contact in the camp with Pastor Niemöller”. Others included auxiliary Bishop Michal Kozal of Wloclawek in Poland, and Fr Joseph Kentenich (founder of the Schoenstatt Apostolate). [See www.scross.co.za/2020/05/catholic-martyrs-to-nazis/ for more]

Fallen Catholic soldiers

The Roll of Honour of local Catholics who fell in the last weeks of the war includes Lt Cecil Sumner, 26, of Durban; Lt Cecil Boyd, 20, of Durban; Patrick Tanguey; and (mentioned on the frontpage) Major Adrian Hope of Johannesburg.

Editorial: Right to our prayers

In his frontpage editorial on the end of the war in Europe, editor Fr Owen McCann calls readers to prayers of thanksgiving. “Let us pray, too, for all those who have lost their lives in this gigantic struggle… They are all our brothers and they have a right to our prayers.”

Previous “From The Vaults” articles at www.scross.co.za/category/from-our-vaults