Cardinal Mercier in the First World War

Cardinal Mercier in the First World War Belgium, Germany and the Catholic Church - KADOC Studies on Religion, Culture and Society

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Publisher's Synopsis

Church leaders and their contrasting opinions in the face of the Great War

Cardinal Désiré-Joseph Mercier, Archbishop of Malines, was the incarnation of the Belgian resistance against the German occupation during the First World War. With his famous pastoral letter of Christmas 1914 'Patriotisme et Endurance' he reached a wide audience, and gained international influence and respect.

Mercier's distinct patriotic stance clearly determined his views of national politics, especially of the 'Flemish question', and his conflict with the German occupier made him a hero of the Allies. The Germans did not always know how to handle this influential man of the Church. Pope Benedict XV did not always approve of the course of action adopted by the Belgian prelate. Whereas Mercier justified the war effort as a just cause in view of the restoration of Belgium's independence, the Pope feared that "this useless massacre" meant nothing but the "suicide of civilized Europe".

Through a critical analysis of the policies of Cardinal Mercier and Pope Benedict XV, this book sheds revealing light on the contrasting positions of Church leaders in the face of the Great War.

This publication is GPRC-labeled (Guaranteed Peer-Reviewed Content).

Book information

ISBN: 9789462701649
Publisher: Universitaire Pers Leuven
Imprint: Leuven University Press
Pub date:
DEWEY: 940.3493
DEWEY edition: 23
Language: English
Number of pages: 262
Weight: 514g
Height: 171mm
Width: 237mm
Spine width: 21mm