DEPARTMENT OF STATE                     
 
                     INCOMING TELEGRAM                      
 
                          RA-1790                           
 
                                                            
 
 
This telegram must be colsely paraphrased before   
               being communicated to anyone.                
 
                       Vatican City                         
 
                  Dated December 20, 1944                   
 
                       Rec'd 11:55am.                       
 
                     Secretary of State                     
 
                         Washington                         
 
                   410, December 20, 3pm.                   
 
                FOR PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY                 
 
                                                            
 
 
At audience with His Holiness this moring I was charged to transmit to   
the President the Pope's Christmas greetings and best wishes and his   
blessing for himself and the members of his family and through him to   
                    the American people.                    
 
                                                            
 
 
His Holiness displayed very great concern over the loss of lives in the   
war particularly on the westen front.  His impression of the German   
offensive was indicated by the use of the words "an incident".  The Pope   
     displayed no fear over the outcome of that action.     
 
                                                            
 
 
His Holiness will celebrate two masses at midnight on Christmas Eve at   
St. Peters which will be open to the public. It is anticipated that   
there will be a large attendance.  His Holiness will also broadcast an   
        allocation to the world on Christmas. Apart         
 
                            from