The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-26
THE POPE's BIRTHDAY.
He Complains of the Wrongs and Dangers Of
the Church.

the Church..
ROME, March 3.-The I'd of March is the ami
versary of Pope Lso's 60 He was born
March q rsSe in sss,arpnaetp. Szg the diocessof
Anagni. He completed yesterday, his seventy
fifth year. The day before he received official
compliments from all the ambassadors and min
listers of foreign powers accredited to his court
Yesterday at III o'clock A. NJ. he received in the
Hall of the Throne the cardinals the archbish-
ops, bishops, and the different colleges of pre-
ates and the members os the Roman aristocracy
Many foreign bishops were present for this occa-
Sacconi read the address. In his reply the
Pope said, among other things:
1--WE mind neither the bitterness, the insults.
nor the threats aimed daily at us by daring
and malicious press. We recall how our Divine
Master was treated on earth, and by this record
every offense of our person becomes tolerable
and glorious. What grieves us deeply is to see
the church misrepresented in many nations and
kingdoms, her most benevolent intentions ca
lumniated her peaceful mission opposed, her
power fcttered, her most wholesome institutions
destroyed, her benefits rejected; and all this at
a time when true salvation for society cannot
come from any quarter but the church.
ut fills up our bitterness, this condition made
to the Vicar of Christ, which becomes harder
and more difficult the more it lasts.
''There are some it is true, who do not fail to
affirm that the Roman Pontiff might ard ought
to make the best of this situation, and be sat
isfed with the freedom still left to him. But
this is to add insult to injury. It is evident to
everybody that in the present circumstances we
are not in our own power, but in other peoples,
who, having us at their mercy may, as they
wish, aggravate their hostility against u.s. coun-
teract, under the most plausible pretexts, our
every action, and, upon given occasion, offer to
our very person such violence as many of our
predecessors have been victims Of
'They may not do it. But what security can
they give against such violence who did not hes
itate to invade the states of the church, to get
hold of Rome, and to teach almost at the gate of
this our own resdence2 Have not daring pro-
posals and ferocious threats been made at no
remote time, even against this our own peaceful
asyluml
But even granting that they will not do any
such thing, where is the Pope's full freedom
in governing the churchl 1t is not yet forgotten
what was done against Propaganda and against
the independence and power of the apostolic min
stry in its closest relations with the spiritual in
terests of faith and of souls throughout the whole
world What shall we say about the nomina-
tions made by us to vacant sees. and which have
either undergone unjnstifable expansion or have
had no effect owing to unfounded claims over
the churches of Talyf 1t is not even in our
power to close id this Rome Of ours the gates
against heresy; it is not in our power to prevent
the diffusion of doctrines immoral or impious,
nor to stop laws openly contradlctlng the dogmas
or the teaching of the church.
Now, let any honest man decide whether
this can be an endurable condition, becoming to
the supfeme pastor of the whole Catholic world,
to his highest power which he holds from Christ,
and to the dignity of his Apostolic See No,
surely. We may suffer this, but SO long as this
situation lasts neither we nor any of our sue
cessors WILL or ever can at any cost, accept such
q condition and sanction it.
1.-THE very strength and life Of the church are
at stake, namely, the independence and freedom
of lis supreme power, for which the Roman Pom
tiffs trusting to God and relying on that cour-
age which the consciousness of the right always
inspires, have ever fought even against the
most powerful kings of earth, to preserve. and
have conquered. We are therefore resigned, as
on the first day of our pontifcate, to the DEGREES
of Providence. With that special help which all
catholicity implores from heaven, we shall go on
in the difficult path which still remains to US;
and for the world running toward its ruin we
shall continue to procure, as well as we can, the
precious advantages of that divine religion that
is not only not appreciated by them, but migrate
fully and foolishly combated
1.-THE cooperation OF the Sacred College on
which we reckon will be of great help and COM
fort In the future. 1t is with this confidence
that az a token Of our most special affection, We