The New York herald., 1870-12-11
Effects of the French Revolution
ON the Papacy.
THE PoPEs IN EXILE.
The Councils and Diets OF the
Roman Church.
Progress and Close Of the Gem
poral Power.
The Eternal City Becomes the Capital
Of United Italy.


The important events that for three months past,
have been transpiring at Rome have already led 70
the extinction or the Oldest dynasty in the world and
deprived the Popes OF that temporal jurisdiction
they have held since the days OF Chalemagne,
although they still claim spiritual supremacy over
nearly two hundred millions OF Christians. trust
worthy history, ther FORE such % mas not yet ap-
peared in the columns OF the press OF tne rise,
growth ana influence Of that power fail to be
acceptable to our readers, and such, compiled with
much care and impartialy, we now place before
them
CLAIMS OF SUPREMACY THE ROMAN sEE
IL is not OF course. readers to hear that
the Popes Of Rome claim supremacy, by Divine
right, over all otner bishops regarding themselves
as the legitimate OF st. Peter who, they
hold mad the primacy OF the Apostles bestowed on
him ana founded the see OF Rome in which city
he was martyred in the year 66. Ranhe
tells us, in his History OF the Popes,"
that mo long time had elapsed before
the bishops OF Rome acquired the supremacy" at
Is indeedn he says, vain pretence TO assert that
this supremacy was universally acknowledged by
East and West even in the Irst century, or indeed
at any time but 1t is equally certain that they
quickly gained pre-eminence, raising them far
above all other ecclesiastical dlgnitarles.n The
daunted hrmness which the bishops OF Rome dis
Played throughout the fearful prosecutions 10 which
the Christians were subjected during the first TWO
centuries was well calculated TO secure TO them
this position; one after another they cheerfuly fol-
lowed their predecessors in the path OF marty yrdom
Their supremacy was further strengthened by
the emperors from the time Constantine embraced
the Christian faith until the partition OF the empire
We find Theocosius the Great commanding tbat all
receive the faith propounded by ST. Peter TO the
Romans; while valehrinian forbade inc bishops,
whether Od Gau or the other provinces to depart
from the received customs OF the Church without
the sanction OF that venerable man. the Pope of the
Holy CITY,
the appellahon ''popen Greek word, sienifying
sfatherr appears TO have been first taken by Hygi-
nus who held the See early In the second century.
Innocent L. who began his reign 402, was decided
In his avowal Of the authoritative position he held,
using the following words: s:-"An ecclesiastical mat
ters throughout the world are, by Divine right to be
referred the Apostolic See-that is to ST. Peter
the author OF its name and honors.n Towards the
close OF the same century we find Pope Felix H.,
who was the first TO apply the term "vicar' TO him
self, equally emphatic IN the assertion OF his claims
saying, "St. Peter the apostle, speaks In me, his
wear and Christ speaks in hm.n
The emperors OF the East, however were aver Sc
10 the recognition OF the supremacy of the See OF
Rome in their dominions and 1t was, doubtless,
owing their influence that we find. during the
reign Of Pope Slmplicus, the sees OF Constanti-
nople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem, s.rng-
Cling respectively for the supremacy, their claims
obtaining only partial and temporary recognition.
We meet the TIL supreme pontf" first applied
to Theodorus, who assembled the Papal chair in 642
by the African bishops, who addressed him as
supreme ponti1 OF all bishops"
DISRUPTION or THE ROMAN ENTIRE.
The important part played by the bishops OF Rome
during the disruption of the empire led to the founda
ton OF the temporal power Of the Church. When
the Roman empire so long conquering and para
mount, was In turn invaded and overcome,
Christianity, amid the general commissions that
ensued, received o violent shock, and the Church
found herself in entirely altered circumstances.
From the commencement OF the nth to the middle
of the eighth century Rome was repeatedly taken,
sacked and burned by the Goths, Huns and Van
dais. and other endless and barbarian hordes who
poured out their savage multltudes over Italy.
ROME PLUSDERED BY THE GoTHs AND vANDALs.
In 4l0 the city was taken and pillagad by Alarlc
King OF the Goths. Next came Atllla, the Hun,
called the Scourge Of God with 100000 followers,
who are described as more like demons than men.
He was met while yet IN the North Of italy, by pope
ceeded in diverting him from his fierce purpose.
Soon after came Genserc, one OF the Vandais He
set sail from Africa, and, when asked by the pilot
sWhere shall steer ~ answered, 'Leaye that to
the winds; they VIII take to the country God Is
angry with" He landed near Rome. Again the
Pope went forth with few unarmed ecclesiastics,
and though he did not succeed IN turning him back,
he obtained for the people the best terms he could
The horrors at tnat time were great that when
the Greek General, Narses, took the city, in 552 it
the ifteehth time 1t had been taken by an army
within sixteen years
Meantime the Lombsrds as neighbors most dam
gerous and hostile, had established powerful
Sovereignty in italy, while the Arabs, inspired by
fanaticism and dogmat2ing creed directly op-
posed to the Christian faith, now began 10 pour
themselves over the West. as they had previously
done over the East. They had gained pos esson
or Africa after repeated attacks, had made them
Selves masters OF Spain BY one bat tile and their
General, Musa, had boasted that he would march by
the Pyrenees cioss the Alps into Italy and have the
name OF Mahomei proclaimed from the Vatican AZ
Rome
TO add to the perlous position OF Roman Christen.
dom at this period the lconocastlc dssensions had
broken out, and the Emperor at ConstautnoDle
adopted the party TO which the Pope was opposed.
Martin l.. who ascended the Papai chair In 699 was
made prisoner by the Emperors orders conveyed to
the isle OF Makes, and subjected to great ndlgnties
subsequently he was taken to Constantinople
brought to mock trial, accused OF censlJring
AGAINST the Emperor stripped oil his pontical robes
ard dragged through the streets with an IRON cellar
asout his neck He was then cast into prison and
shortly after baDished 10 the Crimea where he died
sPREAD or CHRISTIANITY IN EUROPE.
While Christianity was then almost extcrminatedin Ia
Africa BY the progres CT Mohammedanism, and all
Chrlstendorn threatened with war OF exterrnina-
"a rcnA na