Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-10

WASHINGTON, December s.-Arch-
bishop Ireland, in a sermon preached at
ST. Patrick's Church, in this city, to-
day, reviewed the question of the inds-
pendence OF the Pope and prophesied
that at no remote day 1.-THE Italian peo-
pie and Christendom at large would
give back TO the papacy its won;ed dig
nifty and liberty" Tire discussion OF
what is known as the Roman question
was especially significant, as the Arch
bishop, during the latter's recent visit
TO Rome, talked at length with tho 1
Pope. The Archbishop referred to tho
Pope as a prisoner in the Vatican. vols
untary in that no physical force pre-
vents his leaving It's precincts. and In
voluntary in that he could not 20 be-
yond the Vatican without lmpalring hial
dignity as Pontiff and without seeming
to accept the situation created for him i
by the entrance into Rome OF the troops
Of the Italian government He said the 1
1aeASAlN NaAhAA4 - q NANAnEty &ACttGtNf
organism, received directly from
Christ, its mission and all the rights
which are needed that 1t may live and
work; that its life and mission arc ex-l
pressed in its supreme chief. ehe sue
cessor of Peter. and to him belong in q
pre-eminent manner all the rights in
hereHt in the Church, and whose pos
session is needed for fulallment of it's
mission and work willed by Christ.
Hence the Pontiffs right to independ-
ence and as a consequence TO temporal
sovereignty
The Archbishop said:
IF the Pope Is a civil subject of an
authority outside of himself. he has
not the necessary freedom; the ruler or
government would interfere, make laws
imparing his freedom of action or strive
10 impose methods more serviceable 70
the state than the church. TIE Pom
sirs words mass BAR no possible sas~
picion that they were imposed by men
who have no authority in things moral
and spiritual. II the sovereign Pom
tiff be the subject OF the king OF Italy
what guarantee Is there for other peo-
Piles and other rulers that whether
through fear or favor Italian Influences
have not penetrated into the Vatican
and that Italian interests are not TO Dc
served. The peril OF national jealous
les would be the greater were the for
eign countries at the time warning with
file king OF Italy. We in America are
willing indeed to hearken 20 words Of
Peter, but IL must De plain that they
are not the words OF foreign ruler
whose sole purpose is the interest Of =
foreign nationality not OF the Church.
The sole effective guarantee OF inde-
pendence for the Pontiff IL temporal
sovereignty which marks out for him
sufficient space on earth upon which he
may work in fulillment Of his mission
with all the Independence he needs. The
dependence OF a bishop upon the civil
ruler sewers him from union with Chris-
tians in other countries, reduces his
church To the condition of natlonaa
church and disrupts the oneness OF the
universal church. Other CHURCHES fhan
the Catholic do not demand civil inde-
pendence and temporal power FOR their
chieftains because no osber churNa than
the Catholic Is a world. church. nor aims
az being az the same time universal ana
one; nor fulflIs the Injunction Of the
Saviour. Teach all nations. The gov-
eminent Of Italy. he contended. should
have remained somewhere outside Of
Rome"