The sun., 1903-11-11


20 Tho Now Pope Policy.
The attitude which Pope P1Us K. will
maintain toward the kingdom Of Italy
has not yet been conclusively shown,
though the declaration made recently in
the consistory assures that no change In
relations will be made for some time to
come, but the appointment of Mgr.
MERRY DEL VAL to be Papal Secretary
Of State indicates the policy that he is
likely to pursue toward France, Spain
and Germany. There Is to be no marked
divergence from tho policy Of Cardinal
RAMpoLLA, who but for tho veto inter-
posed In the Conolave by representa-
tive OF Austria would now occupy the
Papal chair. 1t will be remembered
that Mgr. DEL VAL has been Acting
Secretary since the death Of LEO KILL
and that in no direction has he given
any sign of dissent from the Views Of
bis predecessor.
Cardinal RAMPoLI4A was not friendly
to the Triple Alliance, regarding 1t as a
prop OF the Italian dynasty which had
deprived the Papacy Of it's temporal pos
sessions. Especially did he show him.
self aggrieved by the willingness Of q
great Catholic Power like Austria to
enter into the most friendly relations
with the spoliator Of the Church. Under
the circumstances, 1t was to be ex-
pected that he would seek q modus
vivendi with the French Republic. II
he did not suggest, he sealously do
Tended the advice given by LEO XIII.
that French Catholics should rally to
tho support Of the Republican regime.
He resisted all attempts to oust France
from her traditional role Of protector
Of Catholic Christians In the East. Even
the rigorous law aimed by tho French
Radicals at the religious associations
which had been engaged in teaching
did not provoke him TO reprisals that
might have caused an abolition Of the
Conoordat. In a word, Cardinal RAM
PoLLA had made no secret Of being an
ardent Francophile, and naturally he
was disliked at Vienna and Berlin. At
in the Sacred College, and Cardinal
GoTTI was put forward as an opponent
Of the French party; yet 30 preponder-
ant had become RAMPoLLA's influence
among his colleagues that, as we know
from the revelation of the proceedings
Of the Conclave, he was on the point Of
being chosen Pope when Austria's veto
was made known.
How distasteful to Austria will be the
appointment Of Mgr. DEL VAL may
be inferred not only from his Franco
phile and liberal opinions, but also from
the fact that the new Pope's intention
to send him as Nuncio to Vienna had
to be renounced In consequence of an
intimation that he would not be persona
Qrdtd. Nothing could more strongly
commend him TO French Republicans,
and they are now less likely than they
seemed to be some months ago to press
for a divorce OF the Church from the
State in France.
We observe further that Mgr. DEL
VAL's selection for the Office OF Papal
Secretary Of State puts an end to any
hopes that the Carlists may have built
on the personal friendship that existed
between Don CARLOS and Cardinal
SARTo when the latter was Patriarch
of Venice. No appointment could be
more welcome to the Alfonsine dynasty.
Not only is Mgr. DEL VAL a Spaniard,
but his father was some years ago the
Spanish Ambassador to the Vatican,
and one of his kinsmen is now the Span
ish Ambassador to the King of Italy.
What is much more important, brother
OF Mgr. DEL VAL was long the tutor
and is now the chief secretary of the
young King ALFONSO XIII. 1t may
therefore be taken for granted that the
support of the Vatican, but for which
the Bourbon monarchy could not have
been restored and upheld at Madrid,
is not to be withdrawn during the pres
ent pontificate.
English and American Catholics also
have good reason to be pleased with the
selection Of the successor to, Cardinal
RAMpoLLA. Mgr. MERRY DEL VAI.'s
family is of Irish origin, and his mother
was an English woman. He was educated
at Stonyhurst, the well known Jesuit col
lege in England. For these reasons, and
because he has always belonged to the
Liberal party in the Church, his ap-
pointment should crafty the friends of
Archbishop IRELAND.
While IL now seems settled that the
policy OF Pope PIus y. will be at least as
broad and oonciliatory as was that Of his
predecessor in his dealings with trans
alpine countries, he will not for the pres