ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS PIUS XII
TO THE REIGNING PRINCE OF MYSORE*

Monday, 31 July 1939

It is with genuine pleasure that We see in Our presence so distinguished a member of the reigning house of Mysore in the person of Your Highness together with your esteemed consort and the Successor to the Throne and the Princesses.

Well do We know the benevolence His Highness the Maharaja manifests towards the Catholics of his realm and how they can always rely, on him for sympathetic understanding and encouragement in all their religious, educational and charitable undertakings.

Similarly it is not unknown to Us how Your Highness shares these noble sentiments of the ruling Prince and how you have given proof thereof on more than one occasion by your deeds.

Today's reception is another evidence and a confirmation of this fact, which does honour to the wisdom of the rulers of your country and fills Us and the Catholic subjects of His Highness with happiness and satisfaction.

Gladly do We avail ourselves of this significant meeting to ask you upon your return to your distant home to make yourself the kindly interpreter of Our sincere gratitude to His Highness the Maharaja. The beautiful musical performance, which Your Highness has just now rendered by real masters of their art, has been a charming gift to Us out of the rich treasures of a culture and a people outstanding in the history of mankind, whose further fortunes we shall follow with deep interest.

While We give Our paternal benediction to the Catholic members of this select delegation, We invoke upon all here present, but particularly on Your Highness and your noble family, on the Ruler of your Country and upon all the people of the land of Mysore, the protection of the Almighty, and We wish you out of the fullness of Our heart a peaceful happy future and ever increasing blessedness.

*Discorsi e Radiomessaggi di Sua Santità Pio XII, I,
  Primo anno di Pontificato, 2 marzo 1939 - 1° marzo 1940, pp. 287-288
  Tipografia Poliglotta Vaticana.