The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-16
The New Pope's Policy Toward Italy.

The New Pope's Policy Toward italy.
What Is the actual attitude OF the Holy
See toward the Government of HUMBKRT l.,
as evinced in the latest and authentic utter
ances Of the new Pontiff An answer to
that question would define tho precise ex-
tent OF the change in the policy Of the Yati-
can-would fix the points as TO which LEO
Mi. might incline to make concessions,
and those which seem TO be upheld with I'M
shaken constancy and to be deemed vital TO
the welfare of the Catholic Church.
The documents from which we have a
right to infer the posture OF the Vatican to-
ward the Italian kingdom are the Encyclcal
of last April, the instructions issued under
the express sanction OF the Holy Father by
the Cardinal Vicar in July, and finally, the
remarkable letter 10 Cardinal NINA. the
Pontincal Secretary Of State, first published
some weeks ago. In tone and in purport
these papers are identical so far as
regards the relation OF the Papacy TO
the civil power in the peninsula.
The first striking feature is the reln-
tive mildness and succinctness which mark
the Pontifs claim TO rule as an earthly
king. 1t is true that LEO KILL has. on one
occasion, demanded the restoration of the
temporal dominion; but his language had a
formal, perfunctory sound, and was strange
ly distinct in spirit from the vehement asser-
lions Of Plus IX On the whole, it must be
conceded that the general tenor of the Pope's
declarations has been 10 shift the ground
OF contest-to waive for time the
question OF territorial sovereignty, and
to accept, under protest, OF course. the
Italian Government. But it was made plain
and unmistakable that this compromise in
civil affairs was to hinge on the frank con-
cession Of absolute sway in spiritual con-
Germs BY this course the reigninR Pontin
assumed the precise position commended by
the majority Of intelligent public opinion. By
limiting his claim to supremacy in matters
of faith and morals and in the hierarchical
economy he seemed likely to ALLEVIATE no.
body except the violent partisans OF Ultra
montana doctrines.
Yet, as n matter OF fact, Cancellation APP
pears TO be well nigh as impracticable on
the one ground as on the other. When this
claim OF paramount authority in spiritual
affairs came to be translated into concrete
regulations it was found TO carry assump-
lions which the Italian Government could
not recognize. 1t turned out that the exist
ence Of Protestant schools and churches was
placed by LEO XIII. in the front rank OF the
evils which the revolution had brought to
Rome. 1t is the presence OF these heretical
institutions within the shadow OF the Vatican,
the inefficacy OF ecclesiastical weapons 10
check their extension--and such measures as
the most sweeping accommodation have
not been spared-and the restrictions which
the legal liberty OF belief imposes on his
spiritual nile, which form the keynote
| Of al the Pope's dlscourses. 1t is
the power OF closing heretical churches
and schools, as a conclusive acknowl-
edgment OF his spiritual supremacy,
which the Pope has exacted from the cNil
arm in each of his published declarations
And this, we may affirm with certainty, will
DO made a sine qua non whenever negotia-
tions are opened looking TO provisional in
tercourse or n modus uirendi as 1t is called,
between King HUNBERT's Ministers and the
pontifcal court.
But this is not the only difficulty raised
! by the practical application Of claims linn
tied for the present TO an assertion of spir-
itual supremacy. II appears that even on
this ground, differing so essentially from
that taken by Pho NoNo, the Papacy has yet
another cause OF complaint against the
Government OF Italy; and "a large part OF
the letter 10 Cardinal NINA Is given up to
the denouncing of this grievance. The new
aggression OF which LEO XIII. complains,
namely, the assumption of control over
nominations to episcopal sees, is stigma
tiled not only as an infringement Of i'm
memorial rights, but as violation
Of specific agreement offered by VIC
TOR EMANUEL, and tacltly accepted by
Plus X The Pontiff refers TO the recent
Ministerial Interference with his Neapoitan
appointments, but It has been urged in re-
ply that the law cited contained rcserva-
tion as TO certain preierments described as
OF royal patronage" Such undoubtedly
under the old regime were the doceses in
the kingdom of Naples, but the Pope argues
with much force that privileges granted
only 10 specially favored and trusted Gov
| ernments cannot pass by inheritance 10 the
new Italian monarchy. Rights which the
Papacy would instantly have reclaimed
from recusant descendant OF FERDINAND
OF Arragon or from an insubordinate Bour-
bon. could hardly descend as matter OF
legal prescription to prince tainted as is
HUMBERT |. in the eyes OF the Vatican with
the crimes OF spoliation and invasion.
Thus lar. then, the change OF attitude on