VATICAN CITY, Italy. — Pope Paul VI, who is said to show signs of pleasure and displeasure after hearing speeches by members of the Synod of Bishops, is displeased when Archbishop-Major Josyf Cardinal Slipyj speaks, wrote Israel Shenker in the October 12th issue of The New York Times.
The Roman Catholic world leader attends every session of the Synod of Bishops. He sits facing the prelates and when «he hears a speech that impresses him by its spirituality, he greets the speaker, arms extended forward, palms upward, hands fluttering slowly,» wrote Mr. Shenker.
On the other hand, if the Pope hears a speech that is «too political» or «to critical» of Roman Catholic Church’s policy, then he sits solemly, «with no hint of flutter.»
«After Josyf Cardinal Slipyj, the exiled Ukrainian Metropolitan of Lviv, had spoken up for Ukrainian rights, the Pope sat still and unsmiling», wrote Mr. Shenker.
In the ten years since Cardinal Slipyj was released from a Soviet concentration camp, the Ukrainian prelate made numerous speeches before the Synod of Bishops for Ukrainian rights, scorning Russification, and reminding the religious body of the suffering of the Ukrainian people for the Catholic faith.
Another Catholic prelate who fell into apparent displeasure with Pope Paul was Bernard Jan Cardinal Alfrink, Archbishop of Utrecht, said The N. Y. Times.
