The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-03-05

SAhO -
. decree Of Napoleon I, dated 18th May,
was published, " by which, the States OF
the Pope were united TO the Empire" On
the same day the Ponti6, Pins VII, caused
TO be posted on the walls Of Rome . Boil Of
REORGANIZATION against tho Enpeyf,
N" for his acts against Tho spiritual and tenn
poral authority Of the Holy See." The
Pope continued to keep himself shut mp in
the Quirinal with his court and q company
of Swiss Guards. King Murat, following
out the instructions he had received, or
dered the Pope to be removed to Florence.
General Miollis, commanding the Roman
troops, took all the necessary measures for
surprising the Quirinal.' He entered it
f0rcibly, and carried off the Pope ere the
people could be aware of it. Troops, gen.
darmes and bailiffs were posted in the gar
den Of Prince Colonna, adjacent to the
palace, and the duty Of assanlting the pal
ace was c0nfded to General Radet, of the
Gendarmerie, who, at the dawn of day, by
scaling the walls of the palace at different
points, without opposition, penetrated into
the garden and courtyard, opened the
gates, and admitted the troops. He then
forced the doors of the apartments so-as to
reach the one in which the Pope was. The
Pope, apprised of the invasion, dressed
quietly, and passed into the accustomed
audience chamber, where were already as
sembled Cardinal Pacca, Pro-Secretary OF
State, Despuig and Erskine, a few clerks
of the Secretary of State, and some MEM
bers of the Court. When it was found the
assailants had reached the adjoining room,
his Holiness ordered the doors to be thrown
open. General Radet then entered with
some other officers, and, seeing the Pope,
remained motionless and silent for some
minutes; recovering his self-possession, q
little, he addressed, in q voice trem9-
lous with emotion, the following words
to the Pope: 81 come to fulfil Q
very disagreeable mission, and am obliged
to execute it, in virtue OF the oath
1 have sworn to the Emperor, who COM
mands me. I must, therefore, inform yon
that you must renOunce the Temporal
Power; otherwise l must take you before
General Miollis, from whom you will learn
your destination" Plus VII. answered in
a clear voice, and his words are worthy OF
record at the present moment: 'sIf you be-
lieve your oath to your sovereign binds
you to SO much, to what are we not bound
by the many oaths we have sworn to the
Church2 We aue not proprietors of the
State; We are only its administrator, ana
must transmit it to our successors. Rather
than betray our trust, we would allow
ourselves to be torn in pieces; we never
would havaeexpected such treatment from
the hands of the Emperor after all
we have done for him." The General
sai9: 81 know you have done a deal
for the Emperor ~, More nore thar than p you
was then placed with Cardinal Pacca in
carriage already prepared for him. Having
locked the carriage door, Radet mounted
on the front seat, and, accompanied oy
mounted gendarmes, conducted his prison,
or by the Via Pia and Porta Salera, around
the walls of the city to the Via Cassia, by
which he proceeded to Florence with all
possible CELEBRITY. This occurred on the 9th
Of July, 1909. At such brutal act the
Romans remained mystided add sor!ow-
| stricken, and for several days abstained
from appearing at the theatres OF on the
public walks. The Pope. on departing,
left Pastoral Letter, which was read by
the people with the most profound: emo
ton. The whole Catholic Church, on
learning what had taken place, offered,
like the first Christians, their prayers to
the Almighty for the Successor of Peter,
who was prisoner. This is ho1 and schen
Plus VII. left the Quirinal. We do not
know for certain if the same fate is to await
Plus TX, but from the Ministers of the
Kingdom of Italy, from the bombarders of
Rome, it is permitted to expect if, not more
certainly not less, persecution to the Head
of the Church.-Unita CuttolicG.