The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-12-08

Is the voice Of Peter, and not influenced
by any magnate standing by and die
tating what it should say. In past
history the papacy fell somewhat un-
der the domination of kings. During
its captivity at Avignon it felt severe
ly the influence of the king of France,
hence the jealousy of other countries
which led to the peril of national
churches.
Leo represents conscience as against
Physical force. Physical force ruled
supreme and commanded conscience
until Christ came. Christ said, "Ren-
der unto Caesar the things that are
Caesars, and to God the things that
are Gods" and His church mas ever
since proclaimed the high prcrogatve
of conscience to be above all earthly
influences and independent of all phys
ical force. The Pope, to be able, in
the name of conscience, in the name of
moral order, to command kings and
governments. to be able to maintain
the independence Of conscience, must
not be the subject of amy civil govern
mrnt. The necessity of the case, by
the nature of the mission of the church.
makes independence necessary.
Scarcely had the church merged from
the catHcOmlS when the bishop of
Rome became an independents Sovrr-
rign. and for l4OO years he remained
an independent sovereign. Chris
tian nations understood the need
OF temporal power for the Pope and
declared temporal power to he the very
cornerstone Of pontiical independence
and of the Independence of conscience.
a few years ago, however, the govern
mcnt of Italy rushed into Rome and
altered the provdrntial disposition of
centuries. Not only was there in the
breach of rorta Tia the crime of seiz-
ing city belonging to IL sovereign,
willing to belong to that Soverclgn:
there was there IL crime against Cath
Ollie conscience, against Catholic chris
tendon the world over. Since then.
despite the presence of the king Of
Italy, of his policemen ana of his sol
dicrs, Leo remains Independent. Indc-
pendent by his protest against the pres
cncc of the Italian government; by his
protest repeated again and again. He
may be the captive; he is not the slave
or the subject 1t is said, and with
truth, not for centuries did the papacy
enjoy the great moral prestige that it
has to-day; therefore it needs no tenn
poral sovereignty. 1t has such prestige
because Of the personal qualities OF
Leo, despite the obstacles cast in his
way by an invading government; 1t
has that prestige owing to Lco's con-
tinuous protest against the presence
of Il foreign power in his capital The
Pope protests, and you ask what is
the use? The use? Why! is there no
use in procaiming truth, in maintain
ing principle? Such is the mission of
the church, whether her words are in
fact obeycd or not.
Is there u practical benefit to come
from his protests? Leo cares not. 1t
may be that for years and years and
years to come there shall be no change.
The papacy is eternal and can afford
to be patient. We, the children Of Il
day, who live Il few years, despair if
things are not righted before our
eyes The children of a day, we fain
would measure God and His church
by our own brief existence. The papa
cy remains. 1t matters not when the
wrong shall be rightcd, the principle
meanwhile is maintained.
On n marble slab implanted by the
invading government of Rome in the
walls of the old capital, it is written
that few days after the Italian troops
had entered Il plebiscitc was called,
that the people were asked to vote who
might be their king that only seven
teen voted for the Pope. That marble
slab speaks falschood. After the Ital-
ian troops entered Rome the citizens
did not appear ut the polls, would not
dare to appear. 1t was tho s0ldicry
and their following who voted. There
was never n genuine plebiscite in Rome
as to who should be king.
Rome belongs not to Italy but to the
world. Imperial Rome did not belong
to Italy Italy belonged to Rome as
the entire world then belonged to
Rome. The power of Rome grew up
between the seven hills. and then it
went out taking in province after prov
'incc until the world belonged to Rome.
Rome in history is made to be the city
of the world. and to-day when the old
empire of Rome no longer exists Rome