Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-09-21
ITAI.y AND THE PAPACY.
Popc Leo Defends thc Church From
the charge of Enniity to tho State.

The important document which Pope Leo
XIII has addressed to Cardinals de Luca,
Pitra and llorzcnroether has created consid-
cradle impression, and is at the present
moment the object of Il lively discussion in
the Italian press. This document which in
style and character is different to anything
which for centuries has appeared from the
Vatican. has for its object to prove that the
Papacy is no enemy 10 Italy, but. on the
contrary. was and is a national glory In
this document, which occupies several col
umns of the paper, there is not single cx-
preston attacking liberal institutions or the
national sentiment. at may he taken"
says he Roman correspondent of the morn
ing Pest. las an evidence that the Papacy
recognizes the strength OF the national public
opinion and cndeavurs to conciliate public
opinion by proving that the greatness OF the
country So dear to all Italians, was ever at
the heart of the Papacy." The letter COM
mcnccs 10y recording that the assaults of the
advorSarics Of the Church are more especially
directed against ecclesiastical history, and
particularly to that part which has reference
to the relation between the Paracv aud
Italy. This cstrlngcment brought about
fatal cilec'sl and may lead to lncalculable
consequences Therefore the Pope deter
mines to communicate his ideas to the
three above mentioned cardinals, in order
that by their wisdom they may carry them
into effect. History, studied without
passion, says the Pope, forms in itself the
best apology of the Church and the Papacy,
and those who attacked the Papacy could
not leave history intact, for history was
speaking witness of great glories, so they
cDn,radctod and mlsrcpresenlcd it. This
they began doing three centuries ago
and the example set by the writers of
Magdrburg was followed even by Catholic
and Italian writer's.
After deploring that similar falsehoods
are now being Taught in all countries against
the Church, the Pope reminds the three
Cardinals of the enormous benefits witch the
II man plpucy rendered to European So
cicty, and more especially to Italy, which
derived among other benefits the great one
Of preserving intact religious unity. Then
the letter proceeds TO record the opposition
Of the p3pes To all btrbaric iuvasions, the
work achieved by them when the sect OF the
Roman Empire was trlusplantcd to Con-
stantinoplc, demonstrating that the temporal
power proved source Of great civil utility.
The PupGs, in order to defend the rights of
their sovereignty, prevented great part of
Italian territory from becoming sub ieCt to
foreign rule. Leo Nil. reminds the Italians
of the glorious epoch of the Republic, and
the battle Of Legnauo, the struggles against
the Turks and the battle of Lepanto. 1t is
panfIl, adds His Holiness, to see many
Protestant writers doing full justice to the
papacY while Italians do the reverse. 1t is
therefore necessary that men of conscience,
deeply versad in similar studies, should
begin TO write history with the object of
propagItins the genuine truth, thus
answering by the exposition If facts the
nr u pl bupnpv
Leo Nil. then auuOunces a fact which is in
itself II revolution. when one considers the
liallons of the Vatican The library and
archives OF the Vatican will he placed at the
disposal oi the writer's who, under the SUI
pcfvislun Of the three Cardinals appointed,
will undertake, the publication of so import
ant Il work