Pope beatifies last Austro-Hungarian emperor (aka chemical Charles I)

AFP ^ | October 3, 2004

[Truth666]

VATICAN CITY : Pope John Paul II on Sunday beatified the last Austro-Hungarian emperor, Charles I, and a German mystic whose visions inspired Mel Gibson's controversial film "The Passion of the Christ".

The move brings the Habsburg emperor, who is remembered in Austria for authorising the use of mustard gas during World War I, and mystic Anna Katharina Emmerick one step from sainthood.

"I hope Emperor Charles will serve as an example, especially for those with political responsibilities in Europe today," the pope said during an open-air ceremony in Saint Peter's Square that was attended by 30,000 worshippers, including around 1,000 members of the Habsburg dynasty.

The pope also conferred the status of "blessed", the penultimate step to full sainthood, on two Frenchmen and an Italian nun.

Habsburg emperor Charles I became heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian empire on June 28, 1914, following the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand, which historians say was the spark that ignited World War I. He was made emperor in November 1916 and crowned apostolic King of Hungary a month later.

His official biography, published by the Vatican, says he was committed to peace and was the only political leader to support Pope Benedict XV's peace efforts.

But his beatification has caused controversy in Austria, where Charles I is remembered for authorising the use of mustard gas during World War I and where critics believe his elevation to be politically driven by the conservative right.

The Austrian press has ridiculed not only the emperor's political record but the miracle he allegedly produced to merit beatification. According to the Vatican, he cured a Brazilian nun of varicose veins after doctors had given up all hope for her.

[Truth666]

As the still young XX Century saw weapons of mass destruction enterting the scene, the usage of the most terrifying of all at that time, was proihibited in 1907, by the War Convention of The Hague.
Notice how the article associates "conservative right" with the use of chemical weapons.

[starfish923]

But his beatification has caused controversy in Austria, where Charles I is remembered for authorising the use of mustard gas during World War I and where critics believe his elevation to be politically driven by the conservative right.
The Austrian press has ridiculed not only the emperor's political record but the miracle he allegedly produced to merit beatification. According to the Vatican, he cured a Brazilian nun of varicose veins after doctors had given up all hope for her.

The Austrian press (aka socialism-o-rama, secularism-a-gogo) is negative against the Catholic Church? I am SHOCKED, appalled and totally surprised!!!

< sarcasm >

[sierrahome]

I noticed the same thing right off. Also I noticed the:

"was the only political leader to support Pope Benedict XV's peace efforts"

That line is rather timely also.

[Henchman]

Read the article, read the comments. WHO HAS THE FACTS? Please post references. Thanks

[Truth666]

A very detailed report of usage of gas grenades: the wonder of Krafreitag - use google to translate
http://www.wienerzeitung.at/frameless/lexikon.htm?ID=955

[roadrunner96]

Surely, there are volumes of books to read on this Emperor Charles I, http://members.fortunecity.se/mikaelxii/ww1/Austria/charles.html ; let alone the history of WW I, to properly understand the subject being discussed.

The comment by Truth666 seems to involve this excerpt from the story:

"But his beatification has caused controversy in Austria, where Charles I is remembered for authorising the use of mustard gas during World War I and where critics believe his elevation to be politically driven by the conservative right."

Maybe the paragraph should be broken into two sentences.

I would wager, his elevation is driven more by the church, rather than the conservative right.

I forget all of my Saints now, I believe there may have been a Priest from Hungary that helped out many oppressed in World War II.

This is a very interesting article because everyone knows a lot about the history of WW II, but not of "the war to end all wars" except for the slight spillover in relations to recent Balkans conflicts.

[Polybius]

The move brings the Habsburg emperor, who is remembered in Austria for authorising the use of mustard gas during World War I,...

Mustard gas was introduced by Germany at Ypres on the Westrern Front.

History paints a different picture of Emperor Karl I :

"...by the death of Franz Josef in late 1916; he became Austrian Emperor (Kaiser) on 21 November, and King of Hungary on 30 December. Acutely aware that Austria-Hungary's entry into the First World War (having essentially brought it about) was likely to prove the undoing of the empire, Karl quickly sought a means of negotiating a separate peace with the allies. ....................Regarded as weak by both political extremes, left and right, Karl nonetheless drew support from political moderates. Karl responded with the appointed of a succession of liberal, reformist prime ministers, pretty much reflecting his own views. Similarly determined to reform the army, Karl banned flogging, ended duels, called a halt to strategic bombing and limited the widespread use of poison gas; which served merely to infuriate his high command.

[Just mythoughts]

I am still trying to find who gave a man authority to pronounce anybody a "saint".

[Truth666]

History paints a different picture of Emperor Karl I
Does that mean that "history is written by the victorious" isn't true ?

[tkathy]

Good grief!

[speedy]

I would not necessarily accept the spin of AFP on Charles I, or any other topic, for that matter. Of course AFP would be out to slam anyone they saw as being on the right.

[Polybius]

History paints a different picture of Emperor Karl I

Does that mean that "history is written by the victorious" isn't true ?

Victors often give honor to an honorable foe.

Members of the Australian Flying Corps firing a gun salute at Baron von Richthofen's funeral, Bertangles Cemetery, France, 22 April 1918.

[roadrunner96]

I wonder where "Chemical Charles I", AKA comes from in this story and placed in the caption? A reference would be welcomed.

I've started looking at other coverage of this same story.

Seems AFP could have mentioned the name of the German Mystic, a woman in fact, named Anna Emerick. If they mention Mel Gibson's movie, couldn't they at least mention her name.

http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=59147 Is the Catholic Press, I believe.

[AnalogReigns]

I am still trying to find who gave a man authority to pronounce anybody a "saint".

Of course the biblical definition of saint is anyone who trusts in Christ Jesus.

Too bad Rome's traditions are more authoritative to it than holy scripture.

[xm177e2]

That line is rather timely also.

Why do you think the Vatican sainted him? Because he cured a Brazilian nun of varicose veins??? No, because of its agenda.

The Vatican knows there has never been a single documented miracle associated with this fellow, ever. The just invented one when it was politically convenient to invent another "saint."

Makes you wonder how often this sort of thing occurs. More often than some Catholics would like to admit, I'd imagine.

This isn't the first time JP2 has gone against tradition, saintswise--he beatified Mama T before she had been dead long enough.

It's funny to watch Catholics defend their mystical, complicated rules when their own Pope violates them on a political whim.

[roadrunner96]

The Polish Pontif has confronted both World War II and the Communist Empire; I would not forget this.

On another note, this has shades of, now I remember, Cardinal Stephanic of Croatia being elevated.

One would need to study the issue.

[Truth666]

Surely, there are volumes of books to read on this Emperor Charles I, ... let alone the history of WW I, to properly understand the subject being discussed.

I disagree. There's no need to spend too much time to understand World War I o Charles I.
Here is one of the best entry points :
The Battle of Verdun is considered the greatest and lengthiest in world history. Never before or since has there been such a lengthy battle, involving so many men, situated on such a tiny piece of land. The battle, which lasted from 21 February 1916 until 19 December 1916 caused over an estimated 700,000 casualties (dead, wounded and missing). The battlefield was not even a square ten kilometres. From a strategic point of view there can be no justification for these atrocious losses.

[MonroeDNA]

Vericose vein bites can be nasty.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[A.A. Cunningham]

Too bad you possess such a poor knowledge of Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the history of Christianity. By the way, you do know that "saint" is found 56 times in the Old Testament, don't you? Also, what authority did Rome invoke when it added chapter and verse division and numbering, which weren't in the originals, to Sacred Scripture?