The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-29
PAPAL NUNCIO At PARIS
WILL BE RECALLED TO
ROME BY THE VATICAN
Holy See Does Not Want It's
Representative to Be Handed
His Passports.
NOT A RETALIATORY ACT
But Intended to Forestall the
French Government in Its
Rumored Purpose.
POLICY OF THE PONTIFF
In His Fight Against the Republic
Continues to Cause Much
Comment in Europe.
POLICY OF THE PONTIFl
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.


to Rome by the Vatican. The act will not
be taken as a measure of retaliation for the
recall OF the French ambassador, but in or
der to forestall a rumored intention OF the
French government to hand the nuncio his
passports The Paris nunciature will be left
IN charge OF Mgr. Ranuzzi, the first secre-
tary, Just as the French embassy at the
Vatican, In the absence of NJ. Nisard. the
ambassador, and NJ. De Navenne, the first
secretary, will remain in charge of Count
DE Sartfges the second secretary The last
named is a devout Catholic and has had
many years of diplomatic experience at
The Italian press, with the exception of
papers exclusively Catholic. is unanimous
In approval of the action of France in re-
taliating against the Vatican protest re-
garding the visit of President Loubet TO
Rome. Although the protest was carefully
worded to avoid offending Italy, the whole
question of the temporal power is involved.
There is hardly an Italian paper which does
not denounce the policy of the Vatican IN
the affair. From France comes the word
that the whole of the sociallstic press is ex-
ceedingly bitter against the Vatican and
IS urging extreme measures on the govern
ment. The Autorite is the only Partisan
paper which has sustained the action of the
Vatican, and copies OF II have been sent d.
rect to the Pope
The papaI -nuncio has instructed the
French bishops and clergy to refrain from
discussing commenting the affair. 1t
IS felt here that this attitude is the best
that could be taken, there is danger that
the French government might suspend the
salary of any of the clergy who might criti-
else publicly the French action
The policy of the Vatican has been much
commented upon since the visit of Loubet
to Rome. and the young cardinal secretary
of state has been criticised by many, some
even predicting his early retirement from
diplomatic life. AS a matter of fact he is
not TO blame. The decision to send pro-
test to the French government and the
other powers. was arrived at after long dis
cussion by the Pope, who even consulted
Cardinal Rampolla on the matter. The very
wording of the protest was suggested by
the Pope, Cardinal Del Val acting through
out entirely under the Pontin direction.
No one here conversant with church mat
tiers considers rupture between France
and the Vatican an unmixed evil. Even the
abolition of the Concordat. apart from the
temporary financial embarrassment 1t
would bring the church. would but place
the French clergy on basis of independ-
OF the Nationalist party in France are
unanimous in this opinion and many of the
French bishops. those who consider more
than their own financial interests, nave
told Plus X the same thing.
To claim that the acts of the Pope in this
inexperience of the head of the church, is
but stating opinion-without foundation in
fact. Plus knew all along just what he
would be for the church in France He de-
liberateIy sent the protest. just delber-
ately as he publicly criticised the actions
of the Combes Ministry on March 10 last,
when he addressed the cardinals in the
ConsistOry.
At the Vatican every one is convinced
that the French government will not stop
its measures of retaliation the recall of
the ambassador, but that eventually the
Concordat will be denounced. and perhaps
tchurch and state in France become sepa-
rate and independent of each other. Plus
X has been quoted as saying that the SOON
er this happens the better for the church i'm
France. If he is right, it will perhaps be
seen as soon as the French Parliament
1neets and the usual interpretations from
socialist members spur the Ministry to
action
Meanwhile, new measures adopted al
most daily to harass the church in France
One of the latest is the law which author
ICES the grande chancellerie to refuse to
register titles and decorations granted to
lay Catholics by the Holy See, the ground
OF refusal being that the Pope is no longer
sovereign As registration is necessary
before titles and decorations can be used
In France, this act of the government is
practically a refusal to recognize any such
that may be granted by the Vatican in
future. Ii has long been the custom of the
Holy See TO grant orders of knighthood and
even titles OF nobility to such laymen as
have done notable acts in the interest of
the church. 1t is estimated that there are
Eve thousand holding lesser titles of nobil-
fly in France whose honors have come
from the Vatican.
The Pope's protest against the French
government was not the first of his acts to
cause trouble at the Vatican. Only few
days before the protest was made the Pope
was addressing large pilgrimage of Pol
ish Catholics. led to Rome by seven bsh-
ops. The pilgrims presented TO Plus X a
al IN Uvla 1Nh UHc forth he ord
ships and trials endured by Polish Catho-
lies since their country was partitioned
among three of central Europe's most
powerful nations. In the goodness of his
heart Plus Y exclaimed. You are certainly
the most unfortunate people of the world"
The expression from the head of the church
alarmed the German. Russian and Austrian
governments. and through their ENJOYS at
the Vatican they FASTENED 10 make repre-
sions would only serve TO encourage the
Poles in their acts Of disloyalty to the gov
ernments or the divided provinces. acts
which are just now giving the authorities
considerable trouble.
Christian democracy in Italy has suffered
another rebuff from the Vatican authori-
ties. who have directed the Rev. Romolo
Murri TO suspend his lecture tour through
the principal Italian cities and TO return
10 HIS parish church. The Rev. Mr. Murri
was very prominent in the last congress of
Bologna in the defense of Christian democ-
JdCy, out some OF Ills expressions were OBJ
jected to by several bishops. who appealed
to the Vatican with the result noted.
The rupture with the French government
will probably cause the postponement of
the Consistory which was TO have been
held towards the middle of June. There are
six vacancies In the French episcopatc,
which were to have been filled. and the
Vatican had consented omit from the
bulls OF election the words 'nobis nomi-
navit" which implied the right OF the
yaIlcan. to the exclusion of the French
government. TO the nomination The ques-
tion was thus reduced TO the eligibility OF
the men proposed by the government and
Submitted the Vatican Negotiat tons
were well advanced and the Vatican au-
thorities We're confident OF complete agree
uaent- The negotiations suspended
and the vacant French sees viii be left
without bishops for a time. Special admin
tstrators will be named by the Holy See
Cor the vacant dioceses-
OBSERVATORY.