POPE IN AN OPEN CAR WAVING TO CROWDS AS HE ARRIVES AT THE CATACOMBS, AND CLERICS LEAVING THE CHURCH THERE AFTER MASS.




Initials PC--JT/V/WH/SGM



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Background: POPE PAUL, COMPLETING HIS SUMMER HOLIDAY TODAY (SUNDAY), ACCUSED "ATHEIST AND TOTALITARIAN" COUNTRIES OF TRYING TO KILL ROMAN CATHOLICISM AND REPLACING ITS TEACHINGS TO YOUNG CHILDREN WITH MARXIST DOCTRINE.HE WAS SPEAKING WHILE CELEBRATING MASS AT THE CATACOMBS OF SANTA DOMITILLA ON HIS WAY BACK TO THE VATICAN FROM HIS SUMMER RESIDENCE AT CASTELGANDOLFO.

LIKE THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF OLD, HE SAID, THE CHURCH TODAY THE COUNTRIES UNDER ATHEIST AND TOTALITARIAN REGIMES WAS UNDERGOING "PRIVATIONS" AND SUFFERING, BUT WITH "DIFFICULTY" SURVIVED.

(THE PEOPLE RETURNED TO THE VATICAN TO PREPARE FOR TUESDAY'S RESUMPTION OF THE ECUMENICAL COUNCIL AND HIS ONE-DAY VISIT TO THE UNITED NATIONS, IN NEW YORK, ON OCTOBER 4.