Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-27
POPE LEO'S RESIDENCE:
The Probability Of His Leaving Rome
Discusscd-The Recent Conclave.

From the Baltimore American.
There have been rumors upon rumors about
Pope Leo XIII leaving Rome for place that
will be more congenial, and where he will find
moro peace OF mind and rest from the arduous
duties which must necessarily fall on his
shoulders as the head OF the Catholic church.
Nothing is certain about the matter, and until
the pope himself decides, and his decision il
officially announced, the people who are inter-
ested must remain in Ignorance. It has been
said upon reliable authority that one of the
principal reasons for calling the last secre.
consistory was that the pope had received CON-
munications from France urging him to leave
Rome, and putting at his disposal residence in
any city that he might chose in that country.
Besides this, he was promised the re-establish-
ment of the temporal power in Rome.
1t was said that the pope told the cardinals
that he refused to leave Rome unless q war
breaks out in which Italy would be concerned,
and then to save his person he would be oh.
liged to take up his residence in another place.
He is quoted as saying that be will never leave
Italy If in doing so he would be the means of
Frances declaring war for his Cause against
Italy, for whom, from the bottom of his heart,
he wishes every good.
Referring to the matter, the Catholic Mirror
of this week thus expresses itself:
"One Of these dispatches is, no doubt, Just as
authentic as the other. VI what transpfred at
the recent consistory, of course the correspond
ents have no authoritative information, but IL
is likely the author of the second cable message
has made q shrewd surmise az to the intent Of
the holy father in respect to leaving Rome.
Immediately following the publication Of the
late allocution the anti-clerical partisan organs
of Rome and Italy assumed to know Just what
took place at the secret consistory. They boldly
announced that the pope broached the question
of his departure, and that there was o strong
sentiment manifested by the council favor1ng
the acceptance Of the proffered hospitality of
Spain, &C., all Of which was mere and not
always sagacious conjecture on the part Of the
writer's"
When the pope is forced to seriously enter
tain the thought Of leaving Rome-which, we
tile aggressions of the government leave him
no other alternative-the great powers may be
expected to have something to say in the mat
ter. In view Of the present complicated con-
dition of European politics, and the active pro-
tests Of nearly all the Catholic population of
the old world against past and further
encroachments upon the inalienable rights of
the papacy, the governments Of the continent
could not afford to remain passive witnesses to
any attempt Of Itaiy's Freemasonic ministry TO
overthrow the law Of guarantees and eliminate
about the only remaining privilege that at
taches to the Office and person Of the pontiff-
the privilege OF existence. II the pope con-
Guided to accept the hospitality OF any place
outside of Rome it will only be when the in
ternai convulsion or invasion that the policy
of the Crispi regime seems anxious to provoke
shall interrupt thepeaceful government Of the
church and render the pope's absence from his
rightful abode necessary to the best interests
Of his high and holy Office"