The New York herald., 1873-12-23
THE POPE.
Encyclical Letter Of His Holiness to the
Universal Church.


the document is addressed TO "all patriarchs,
primates, archbishops bishops and other ordina-
ries in the grace and communion Of the Apostolic
See':-
VENERABLE BRETHREN-Health and the Apostolic
Benediction Although many grievous and bitter
sunerings rom the beginning OF our long Pontif-
cate have fallen to our lot, through various causes,
which we have unf0lded IN our Encyclical letters
from time to time. yet in the last years the num-
ber OF our sorrows has 30 Increased that,
God, we should be almost overwhelmed by
them late matters have reached
better than life amid such storms, and with eyes
lifted up 10 heaven we are lam to cry-"It Is bet
saints" Ever since our city OF Rome by the viii
OF God, has been taken away by force OF arm and
has passed under the sway OF men who despise
law-who are enemies OF religion, who coniound
all things, both human and divne-hardly day
has passed without INJECTING some new wound on
our heart already suffering from repeated In
juries and wrongs. There ring still in our
ears the cries OF religious men and women who
and scattered hther and thither by hostile hands,
as Is done where revolution triumphs-juSJ as,
90 70 All S %
not endure good monks and virgins dedicated to
We have now seen what we thought could never
come 10 pass-viz., the suppression and abolition
OF the Roman University, which had been estab-
aSr 70 the 20 an
Rome) that young Church students from distant
parts might be educated in the Catholic faith
and doctrine, lest in their own lands they
coD coDfrary to r01s 6sainolc unity, and tnat
faith. Thus, while by foul means we are by de-
grees deprived OF all ways Of ruling and governing
the Universal Church, IT 10 clearly manifest how
very far from the truth is that which has been as
serted viz. :-"That the liberty OF the Roman Pom
TIL in the exercise OF his spiritual ministry and IN
his relations with the Catholic world has been in
nowse diminished by the loss OF our city," Nay,
1t becomes clear every day how truly we have SO
often insisted tnat the sacrlleglous usurpation OF
subversion Of the Pontifcal authority and the de-
structon, il possible, OF the Catholic religion ITSELF
write to You Of the woes of our city and OF the
whole OF Italy. We would rather pass In silence
could assnare the b:er ges 50
our venerable brethren, their clergy and people
are undergoing in other lands. Yon are well
aware, venerable brethren, that certain OF the
cantOns Of the Swiss FederatiOn-not at the sug-
gestion Of nonCatholics, some OF whom nave con-
sectarans VINO have now everywhere pos
sessed themselves OF power-have overturned
the order and undermined the foundations OF the
Church of Christ, contrary to every rule OF justice,
and in spite Of their publicly pledged word; for.
according to solemn covenants, passed by the
laws and authority Of the Federation, the religious
liberty OF the Catholics ought to be maintained in
violate.
ing the constitution OF the Catholic Church In the
canton, according 70 the democratic pattern, and
oil subecting the Bishop to the civil power in the
ministration and delegation OF his authority to
others, f0rbidding him TO dwell In the canton,
limiting the number and boundaries OF the par
shes, laying down the forms and conditions OF the
election OF parish priests and their assistants, and
the manner OF their resignation or suspension,
assigning to laymen the right OF nomination, and
the temporal administration and inspection Of
ecclesiastical affairs generally. Moreover, parish
priests and their assistants, without permission,
Withdrawn at pleasure OF the government, were
forbidden to exercise their functions to accept
any dignties higher than that conferred upon them
hv fha ala NJ 10 o. w a f0rc
to take oath in terms involving actual apOstasy
1t is clear tnat laws OF this kind are not only
lawmakers, as being laymen and non-CathOcs,
but also, as regards their provisions that they are
@ f Fly 20 s1e dscnne ennHea bv
Pont1cal Constitutions and the Ecumenical Coun-
Gil OF Trent that they ought to be altogether re-
We, therefore. as required by our once do, by
our Apostolic authority, solemny reject and con-
denim them, declaring the required oath to be un-
lawful and sacregions, and tnat all those who in
the canton OF Geneva or elsewhere, having been
elected according to the tenor OF the same laws
others like them, by the votes Of the people and
confirmation Of the civil power, should venture to
take upon them ecclesiastical functions, do. ipso
reserved to the Holy See and other canoncal pen
alcs and that they are to be avoided by the ialth
ful, according TO the Divine command, "as stran-
gers and robbers, who come but to steal and to
kin and to deetrOy.n
The noble constancy OF the faithful In Swtzer-
land Is initiated In a manner worthy OF all praise
by the clergy and faithful people Of Germany, 1o
lowing the bright examples OF their bishops. They
have been made spectacle to the world, to an
gels and to men, who from every side look up to
them, clad with the breastpate OF Catholic truth,
and, wearing the helmet OF salvation, valiantly
fighting the battle OF God. Their courage and in
vincibIe fortltude are the more admired and
praised, as, day by day, the persecution raised
against them in Germany, and especially in Prus-
sia, RACES more and more bitterly. Besides many
grave wrongs inflicted last year upon the Catholic
Church, the Prussan government has SUBJ
jected to the civil power, by cruel and unjust
legislation, altogether alien from its former
conduct the entire instruction and education
OF the clergy in such manner that it belongs to
the said power to inquire into and to decide in
what manner Church students are to be taught
and trained to the sacerdotai and pastoral lie I;
and, proceeding further 1t gives to the same power
the right OF examining and judging IN respect to
coating to all ecclesiastical Offices and benefices,
and even OF deprlving sacred pastors Of office and
benehce Moreover, in order to subvert more
speedily and completely the ecclesiastical govern
ment OF the Church and the order OF hlerarchical
obedience instituted by Christ our Lord Himself
to hinder the bishops in providing with timely