The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-08
TEMPORAL POWER
OF THE HOLY SEE
IS MUCH REDUCED
Former Popes We're the Great
est ofEarth's Ru!ersbut Tenn
porai Power Was Lost to the
Vatican by Pious TX.

Previous to the elevation of Giovanni
Maria Mastai Ferretti to the position
of pope under the name of Plus TX,
the head of the Catholic church was
the most powerful man in all Christen-
dom. He ruled. with few exceptions,
the governments of the civilized world,
not only in spiritual but also in tenn
poral affairs. The election of Plus was
opposed by some of the governments
of Europe and the Austrian ambassa-
dor at Rome received instructions
when it was too late to veto Plus
election. This was the first indication
of the downfall of the temporal power
of the holy see.
Pope Plus first act was to proclaim
general amnesty for political Offend
ers. and thousands of unhappy beings
who had been imprisoned or sent into
exile, ignorant in many cases of the
offenses of which they were charged,
were restored to society With gen.
uine catholicity of feeling he visited
and relieved the poor Jewish popula-
ton of the city. He authorized the
construction of railways. organized a
civil guard and modified the restric-
tons on the press. His reforms in
Guided the appointment of commits
sion composed largely of laymen as a
council of state to assist him in the
general temporal government.
clast, With Austria.
His policy was regarded with ex-
treme dissatisfaction by Austria, and
July II, 1847, Austria sent a force of
1900 men into Parrara, where it was
entitled by the treaty of 1915 to main
tain a garrison. To this direct menace
Plus made a counter demonstration
with an indignant protest, but .hostfl
tiles were ultimately averted.
His policy was viewed with no less
dislike at the court of Naples. In the
rest of Italy and throughout Europe
he was regarded as the champion of the
national rights OF his countrymen.
This was the condition of affairs
when the revolution in Paris, in Feb
ruary, 1848. famed into flame the al
ready senoldering elements of insurrec-
| ton throughout Europe. The Austrians
were driven out of Milan; republic
was proclaimed In Venice, and free
Italy became the general cry. At first
Plus felt disposed to head the move
u
tary, Gizzi, an irresolute and timorous
man. and appointed Cardinal Ferretti
in his place. March IA, 184S, appeared
the statute fundamentals. a more COM
plete scheme for the reorganization of
the temporal government of the papal
states. Liberty of the press was prom
Used, and a new ministry was formed,
with the ecclesiastical censorship re-
| tanned. -
At this juncture Plus began to waver.
| Although he had up to this time shown
no sympathy for the Jesuits. he en-
deaYored to protect them against meas
ures then being brought forward for
their expulsion, and when his general.
Durando, crossed the Pc without his
orders, and denounced the Austrians as
| the "enemies of the cross of Christ
| he disayowed, In an allocution all inten-
lions of participating in an offensive
war for the purpose of rectifying the
| boundaries of Italy, and at the same
time disavowed all completely in the
| schemes then in agitation for creating
an Italian federal republic with him.
| self as the nominal head.
| Breach With the People.
| This apparent desertion of the ma
| tional cause, at time when the public
| mind had been aroused to the highest
pitch OF excitement by the course OF
| events at other centers, created an ir-
\ reparable breach between Plus and the
| people. His new chief minister Ma
miami, who wished to see him con-
stitutional monarch. advocated further