The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-05-03
THE POPE TO THE WORLD,
A REMARKABLE DISCOURSE DELIVERED
TO AN INTERNATIONAL DE-
PUTATION.

One of the most remarkable of the
many remarkable discourses Of the
present Pontiff wa pronounced by
His Holiness in the Consistorial Hal
in the Vatican on the 22d Of March
1t was addressed to an international
deputation, composed Of representa-
tives from England, Ireland, Ameri
ca, Austria, Poland, France, Holland,
Belgium, Italy and Germany. The
Due Descars was the President Gen.
eral of thedeputation. His Holiness
entered the hall about midday, &C.
companied by five Cardinals and a
numerous court of bishops, prelates
and lsymen. Among the Cardinals
the noble figure of Cardinal Ledoc.
howski was conspicuous. Near to
him stood Mousignor Mermillod.-
Doc Descars read the address in a
low voice AMI with great emotion.
The reply of the Holy Father was de-
livered with power and clearness
of voice especially remarkable. The
yigor of the Pope on this occasion
gives every reason to believe that he
will live for many years to come
On two occasions, at parts of his sub
ject where particular emphasis was
to be given, he smote his breast, and
his voice rose and fell with the emo
tions begotten of his discourse. He
said:
When turn mine eyes around the
different points of the Catholic world,
/ find before me everywhere tue sad
and dolorous spectacle of immense
masses of ruins, caused by the cruel
perfdy of the enemies of the Church
in the present revolution. / see con-
vents and monasteries which were
but lately inhabited by peaceful Cen
obites and by virgin spouses of
Christ, now deserted by their former
occupants in order to make room for
people strange and profane, and
sometimes worse than profane. l see
the fair riches and possessions of the
Church made the prey of the devour-
ers of today, and destined to satiate
the Unsuitable appetite of the revo-
luton.
l see ruins everywhere. I see the
rights of the Church trampled on and
outraged, the ecclesiastical hierarchy
interrupted and made useless, be-
cause all are condemned, no matter
what their grade, to pay that most
terrible of tributes, the tribute of
blood in the fields of battle, and the
Church is impeded from selecting her
own ministers. see liberty of teach
ny rendered q monopoly, which eve
y day judgments the tyrannical OPP
Dressions, and which is accompanied
with error, and sometimes also with
'laaphemy. / see tolerance for many
crimes and offences against God.
against morality and against social
'rder And very often see Judicial
sentences inspired, not by justice,
nut by the evil-horn passions which
'ver dominate in times disturbed by
evolution. These and many other
,hings are what form the great mass
Vt the ruins of the Church, which
scattered here and there occupy an
space.
While | consider this mournful
picture am reminded Of the prophet |
Ezekiel. The prophet was by God
transported in the spirit into a vast
plain, all covered over with dry bones.
And while he, amazed and astonished |
'ondered upon the doleful sight, he
heard at his ear a voice from above
which spoke to him and asked him,
'Believest thou that these bones can
lave life?" The prophet, bending
ow, humbly responded, "Thou only
'anst do this, o my God, "Domine
Deus, tn nosti' Then said God,
Prophecy concerning these bones.
Know that these bones shall live. /
will send spirit into them, and will
gain cover them with nerves, and
endons, and veins, and blood. Flesh
hall once more return to them.
skin shall again clothe the perfect
'ody, and they shall live" The
prophet repeated the words of God,
nd while he uttered them there
commenced noise and then CON-
notion, caused by the bones, which
ought to rearrange themselves to-
orm the several bodies as they had
cen before. Fdctas est sonita.s, ct
Gee comOtio.
The prophecy, my friends, indica-
ed the end of the slavery of Israel
nd the return of the Jewish people