New-York tribune., 1873-04-15
THE POPE.
terry.


IL is n Catholic tradition that the Apostle
Peter presided over the Christian Cn''rcn as
E,sbon of Rome for full quarter OF cen
turv. From that time until the acceSSloii Vi
pins IX not one of the two hundred anu hlty
~, more names in the list of pontiils is accred-
;ted with so long reign, although Plus vi.
r,l sbort of il by only few months; and 1T
80 20 bc a sort of superstition in Italy that
q tho &,cois of Peter should never be filled
NV any of Peters successors. But the vener-
able man who is now supposed to be closing
his eyentiul career in the Vatican, surrounded
NV the Princes of the Church and guarded by
the little Papal army of half regiment, has
long passed The allotted term. The 10th Of
next June will be the eth anniversary
of his election. He came to the throne amid
the acclamatiOns of all Italy. A patriot, q
refsrmer, liberal, his accession was hailed
rs n new era for the people and the Church.
He was welcomed by Protestant England and
America, and his name gave fresh impulse
to the revolutionary forces which then mcnaced
the principal States of the Continent. How
strangely the positions of parties have changed! I!
Long ago Pope Plus TX. became i'll the popu-
| lar mind the chief representative OF political
and intellectual reaction; and though he will
| always be hOnOred for his private virtues and
personal amiability, as well as for certain
qualities of greatness which will be better
recognized when time has assuaged the bitter
ness Of the controversies that called them
forth, it may be said of him officially that IN
| his latter years he has been deserted ana
! friendless.
If he die the forty-five cardinals will choose
his successor without interference, and VIII
not be severely perplexed by the rivalries OF
candidates. The dignity has lost its political
importance its emoluments, and most OF It's
attractions for worldly ambition. The pontiff
has no temporal subjects. He has no territory
except the inclosure of his palace, and that he
holds by a precaTiOus tenure. He has no rev.
enue except the voluntary offerings of good
Catholics. He is king without kingdom or
O treasury. Troubles of every kind are press
ing fast upon him. In q few years, in all
human probability, he will be fugitive. The
Catholic powers no longer intrigue for the
succession. as they did of old. 1t is no longer
necessary in the cOnclave to consult the pre-
ferences of France OF to spare the susceptl-
bilities of Spain and Austria. The church is
| to be congratulated upon the indifference with
which the political powers regard this once
momentous choice. Liberal or conservative,
patriot or reactionist, it is all one now; and
the cardinals will have no embarrassment Ill
casting their suffrages for the man who will
best promote the spiritual interests OF the
faithful
While there can be no political significance
in the choice, whatever it may be, it is equally
certain that there can be no theological sig
nificance either The Council abolished all
difference of doctrinal views i'll the conclave.
| Every line now is distinctly drawn. ant the
new Pope is certain to teach exactly what his
predecessor taught, TO hold the dogma OF IN
! falibilty in all its strictness, and to preach
| the syllabus in all its particulars. 1T is NOR
! ally impossible that he should hold out any
comfort to the Old Catholics of Germany, or
abate any of those pretensiOns for which the
| German Empire now makes war upon the
Catholicism of Rome.
The rule that, the Pope shall be an Italian
has been observed for three hundred and fifty
years. 1t rests upon no stronger basis than
tacit consent, and has no other reason than
such as may be found in the union of the
temporal and spiritual power. That reason
has now disappeared; but while the Church
still hopes to recover her Italian possessions,
it is not likely that the old custom will be
broken.