Nikita Roncalli - Hutton Gibson

certain means one could run the risk of some
intemperance.
Monsignor Radini did not follow that philosophy. At
Ranica it wasn’t a particular question of salary or persons at
play, but a principle: the fundamental principle of the
liberty of the powerful capitalist organization. For him to
side resolutely with the striker, in that case, was to fulfill a
deed of justice, of charity, of social peace. He disregarded
the outcries and continued in tranquility upon his path of
lively interest for the strikers, even though lamenting,
excusing, correcting the inevitable inconveniences of things
and persons that had to be expected in a struggle of that
nature, that was to last fifty days (Cfr. Roncalli, mentioned
title, p. 90 ss.)
Behind the relaxed assessment of the episode can be
divined the “total” participation of Roncalli in those
turbulent events.
It is known that he was personally in the thick of it, and
that his bishop was barely able to save him from the
reaction of the police.
The words written by his own hand on those facts are an
impressive document confirming his precise progressive
opinions, well rooted in the experience of 1909. The
indulgent approach toward the possible “intemperance” and
the inevitable inconveniences… That had to be expected in
a struggle of that nature… is the approach of the post-
Conciliar Church, half a century later, toward the Marxist