The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-03-30

We now draw near to the memorable
part of Fra Paolo Sarpis life-that part
which reveals him as the intrepid and
resourceful but singularly unselish
man Of action. Up to this time his re-
lations with the Vatican had been un-
commonly pleasant. Gregory XIII had
consulted with him about reforming the
calendar; SiXtus V, who died a victim
of Jesuitical hate, held him in the
highest esteem; and Urban VII. whose
pontliicate lasted only thirteen days.
was wont to send for him whenever he
needed disinterested counsel. Clement
VIII, however, was suspicious and per-
haps not little jealous of SaIpi. Twice,
despite the unanimous recommanda-
tion Of the senate of Venice. he refused
to appoint the Servite procurator a
bishop, both times giving evasive rea-
sons. This refusal intensified the now
fast growing friction between Venice and
Rome, which was soon further empha-
sized by tilt over the choice of the
patriarch OF Venice, and by the plac-
ing Of papal interdict on the very con-
siderable book trade Of the lagoon re-
public. We may better understand
what Is to follow II we will bear In
mind that, among the Venetldns, newly
come to be the owners of rich provinces
on the Italian mainland, there was a
strong sense Of resentment toward the
papacy for its habit Of interfering In
affairs of temporal concern. Venice
had not yet broken with Rome II pre-
served the semblance of loyalty TO IT,.
But underneath the surface, 1t writhed
and plotted
In the year 1906 the senate of Venice,
anticipating trouble with the pope,
created a new office of state, that of
Teologo- -Consultore or theological coun-
sellor To this position doge and SEN
ate unanimously elevated Fra Paoln
Sarpi The latter justified their choice
by his very first act. Asa frair Paolo
was under allegiance to the pope; as y
citizen, to Venice. Fearing a clash Of
duties, he obtained the sanction of the
general Of his order, supposed to reprc-
sent the pope, before he accepted the
office. Paolo was then "a years old. He
held this office until his death. II years
later. and gradually became. In fact
II not In name, the real ruler of Venice.
During this period his motives were
never impugned, his honesty never
fell under suspicion. and he was never
crossed by the Venetian senator's. As n
matter OF fact, they could not do
enough for him. Repeatedly they tried
To load him with honors and pensions:
he Invariably refused. There Is In no
| fu nf a
tion as this one s of the alleged in
gratitude of republics
The death OF Clement VIM. followed
by the election of Leo XI. and his dea IN
| twenty-siX days later had seated
Camille Borghese. the son of n
Siennese lawyer on the papal throne.
| under the name of Paul " Paul V
was precisely of the same age as
Fra Paolo Sarpi; the battle which
waged between them with such bitter
ness for years has been very aptiy
called a battle between Paul, the pope
| and Paul, the friar. Paul the pope, be-
fore he had become pope. once said to
Leonardo Donate then Venetian am
bassador at Rome, "If I were pope |
would place Venice under interdlct and
| communication" And II / were
doge" was Donates prompt reply. al
would trample your interdct and ex-
communication under foot" The one
lived to become pope. and to issue his
threatened orders; and. by singular
coincidence, It was the doge Leonardo
who, upon Paolo Sarprs advice, tore
those orders to tatters and threw tho
a.. q k.. ind
We lack spai to set forth, In detail,
the various stebs by which Venice and
Rome were bHugl to arg open tup'
ture. The s9c sslve incidst tsi thi'
.>ll