The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1888-10-13
THE PApACY STILL LIVES
Popes Who Had to Leave the
Eternal City in the
Past
Will. HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF
N.poIeon's letter to Plus VII, and the
Courageous Reply Of His
Holiness. =.

In an article On the historic troubles
OF the Popes the Freeman's Journal
saws: Gelasius III. was forced to leave
Rome by the Em mperor Henry v, and
to fly for refuge to Fsance-a country
even at that period (11l0l Offering q
ready asylum to the Sovereign Pontiffs.
On his journey, all the nobility and
clergy OF Provence came to meet him,
and the King of France fell PROSTATE
at ms teet. Eugeniss I'LL. like tne
late Plus TX /, was compelled to leave
Rome through the conduct OF his peo-
pie, instigated TO rebellion by .Arneld
da Dreacia; and on his way he was met
by depntations representing the maj "
ity OF the bishops and people Of Artne
MIA, who, shaking off The HISTORIAN
heresy, became reconcil.G to the church
Leo Kill has nov at heart the restora-
tion OF tho lapsed Arnanlans. What
if the first note of his exile should be,
like that of Eugenius, the healin. OF a
gvlevous breach 7 Alexander iii. was
exposed to the outrages Of the faction
Of the Emperor Frederick 3arbarossa},
to escape whose fury the venerable
Pon1if wandered d fugitive through
ITALY, France and Germany. But his
long exile was one continued ovation
The princes and people OF all Christian
nations rivalled one another III doing
him honor. Messages and gifts flowed
in from tie King OF Jerusalem, and
even from Emanuel Comnenus, Ean~
peror of Constantlnople, who was a
supporter of the schism; and the hlaigs
of England and France esteemed ii an
honor to wait npon the illustrious exile.
The bishops of all countries, including
St. Thomas Oh Canterbury. rendered
him their homage, and addressed him
letters OF affectionate sympathy. And
finally {; league was formed by the Ven
etians and The different cities Of llon
hardy, to protect him against Freder-
ick, who, at last, was obliged to throw
himself as a suppIiant before the out
ced vicar Of Christ and, upon his
ees, to beg for mercy and pardon.
This struggle, one Of the most pTotract-
ed and distractiug which the Papacv
had to encounter, terminated in tbs es-
tablishDoent u the Sc OF Rome OF a
much firmer basis than before. Com
ing down 80 late times, we behold
Plus vi, exposed 20 danger and perse-
tion, and eventually diving in exile.
He was compelled 10 deliver up, by ex-
torted treaty, important portious of his
possessions, aud submit to see the
priceless treasures OF art with which
he had enriched the galleries OF Rome
made She spoil OF the conqueror. His
capital was occupied by q French army,
his authority superseded, a republic on
the model of that Of France established
in its stead, ana because he would not
acknowledge The usurpat1on he was
compelled to leava the Vatican and
seek shelter in q convent near Flor
ence, in which he was allowed
to remain but a short time. Treated
like criminal, and moved from fortress
to fortress, Plus vi. at length yielded
up life of suffering most heroically en-
dured. Still the Papacy was not des
troyed, nor waists temporal sovereignty
at an end. In Venice, not in Rome,
was his successor, Plus VII, elected.
Alike in name he was also similar to
him in his sufferings The policy OF the
French Directory was to uproot the
Papacy; that OF Napoleon was to main
tain it, but in complete subjection to
his authority. 'All Italy," wrote Ma
poleon to Plus in 1905, "must be subject
TO my laws. Your situation requires
that YOU should pay me the same re-
spect in temporal which I do you in
spiritual matters. You are sovereign
OF Rome, but am its emperor. All my
enemies must be its enemies. No Sar-
dinian, English. Russian or Swedish
envoy may be permitted to reside at
your capital" The reply Of Plus VII.
to that raordinary being who already
aimed at universal dominion, and whose
star OF destiny was then high in the
ascendant, was digniied and firm, the
more so, that his position placed him at
the mercy Of the conqueror. Plus writes
thus: ''Y our Majesty lays it down as a
fundamental principle that you are
sovereign of Rome. The Supreme Pom
tiff admits no such authority, nor any
power superior in temporal matters to
his own. There is no Emperor Of Rome.
IT is not thus that Cnarlemagne treated
or predeceasors. The demand "a dis
riss the envoy of Russia, England and
Sweden s. iposit iIysly ref 't'n fpssd. e The