The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-11-17 00:00:00

MR. GLADSTONE'S INTERVIEW WITH
THE POPE.

The Owriere Italiano protease. to have received from a
person worthy of Orr•lit the following account of the inter-
view between him IX. and Mr Gisdatune. the story. how-
ever, loses Its point When we atty that IC has been officially
contradicted by MV. ft ladstoue :
Mr. Glaclotovne 'Mod the Pope as calm as possible.
Politica were not mentioned until the end of the con-
venation, and it was Mr. Gladstone who took the
initiative. The Pope complained of the Austrian
Government, while fully 'admitting that events in
Germany had put it out of the power of that Govern.
moot to defend the Holy See and almoet justified its
cendoct. Mr. Gladstone congratulated the Pope on
the arrival at Rome of the Antibes legion. On this
the Pope said: "Terrestrial legions have the defect of
often falling of the end they desire to attain. More-
over what matters it tome what shall happen? Rest
assured that when the French are gone I shall not be
less protected, Fleeing that the legions which defend the
Church never fail." In saying that, the Pope raised
his eyes to Heaven. Mr. Gladstone wished to speak
of Italy, and he aeked what truth there might be in
the preliminaries of negociations with the Govern-
ment of Florence mentioned in the journal.. This is
the Pope's reply: Ido not read the journals ; I
know nothing in•that respect; I am ignorant of every-
, thing. All I know is that in dying I shall not leave
' entire to my succeinior the sacred and inviolable in-
heritance of St. Peter." The conversation on Italy,
havin4 ceased, the Chuch in Ireland was spoken of,
and the Pope warmly commended to Mr. Gladstone
his well-beloved flock. Then smiling, he added: "If
one of these days I should have to leave Rome,
although Ireland is far from the centre of Christianity,
I should not object, perhaps, to choose it for my domi.
oil e. Malta, a place almost entirely mercantile, now
that the revolutionaries accuse my poor priests of
sitnony, would not have my sympathies." He said
in conclusion, that he would go where Providence—
mighty and never failing to judge men who are not
eternal—should wish, in saying these words the Pope
seemed much moved.

On the above, one of the London papers says:—
The accounts recently circulated, of a conversation
with the Pope during Mr. Gladetone's visit to the
Vatican, are absolutely devoid of foundation. We
have already stated as much, but the story ham been
renewed by the Corriere Italian.), as if on authorised
information, and it haa been caught up, with ampli.
tications, by more than one of our contemporaries in
this country; hence it has become desirable to repeat
the contradiction, which we are enabled to do in the
most unqualified terms. It is true that Mr. Glad•
stone, as an English vidtor at Rome, paid his respects
to the Sovereign Pontiff, and that he was received as
visit.ors of ilistinction are customarily received by that
amiable Prince; but nothing more took place at the
interview than the exchange of the usual courtesies.
The reported "offer to mediate between the Pope and
the King of Italy" is a pure fabrication; and the
simple exposure of the falsehood dispoaes at once of
the absurd inferences and of the still more absurd com-
ments which the fiction has called forth.