Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-10
POPE HAS MUCH
MORE FREEDOM
Plus NOT RESTRICTED AS WE'RE
HIS PREDECESSORS
Does Not Press Vatican Claims to
Temporal Power as Against the
Italian vernment-Personal Re-
lations Cordial
Special Gable to The herald.

Special Gable to The Herald.
ROME, Dec. 9.---It is a fact that there
has been no contention between the
italian officials and the vatican author
tiles since Plus y. became the head of
the church, and the reason for this is
to be found in the fact that Plus y.
does not put forward the claims of the
holy see against the Italian government
as often as his predecessors. and is
satisfied if he is allowed full liberty in
the exercise of his spiritual jurisdiction
all over the kingdom.
Plus X. goes even further. and at the
time of the recent elections i'm Italy
the spectacle was offered for the first
time of the pope directly trying to help
the Italian government against the ef-
forts and aspirations of the extremists
by allowing the Catholics to vote
Plus y. has been left more freedom
of action by the italian officials in
church affairs as a consequence than
his two immediate predecessors. Under
the former popes many of the Italian
bishops nominated by the vatican were
refused the 'eXequatur' from the Ital-
ian government, as for instance the late
Cardinal Parrochi when elected arch
bishop of Bologna, and thus, not being
entitled to the temporal appointments
of their sees, had either to be sup
ported by the vatican or transferred
to another diocese.
Under Plus x. nothing of this kind
has happened, and it has been sufficient
for the pope to make the nomination.
when the italian government would
imediately approve of ii officially and
grant the necessary document for the
enjoyment of the temporalities of the
diocese.
1t is even said that when now Plus
X. wishes to appoint a new bishop in
Italy he calls the candidate selected to
the vatican, tells him Of his appoint
ment and advises him to present him
self to the Italian officials and find out
what they say about the matter In
variably it has been the case that the
candidate has returned to the vatican
and informed the pope that he had
been promised the immediate issuance
of the "eXequatur.'
No Hitch on Royal Patronage
The same has happened even when
the appointment to be made belonged
to sees, which are considered of royal
patronage, as for instance, the see of
Venice, which Plus X. filled almost i'm
mediately after his election. In such
cases it is the custom of Plus Y. to
send his candidate directly to the king,
to inform him that he is the chosen
one by the pope for the vacant see.
Invariably the king has been known
to approve of the nomination and to
give immediate orders for the issuance
of a royal decree, just as if he had
personally made the nomination.
Since his election Plus X. has prac-
tically done in Italy whatever he has
wished. He has just completed an
apostolic visitation of every Italian
diocese without coming into the slight
est conflict with the authorities of the
government. Notwithstanding the fact
that some of the inspections had rela-
tion with persons and properties di-
rectly under the jurisdiction of the
Italian government, even in spiritual
way. He has asked for the resignation
of several bishops, he has transferred
several others; he has suppressed use
less seminaries and ecclesiastical insti.
tutions, and even parishes, without
meeting with the least objection from
the Italian officials. Even in the italian
capital he has now started a new de-
lineation of the parishes of the city,
and, before acting in the matter. he
was careful to obtain the full assent
OF the Italian officials to his plan so
that no difficulty viii be met before it
is fully carried out.
His personal relations with the Off
cials of the government are even more
cordial, as il was proved by the num-
Der of senator's and members of parlia-
ment he has received at the vatican
and by the audience he granted. only Il
few months ago, to the duke of Genoa
and his family. Plus KS personal ad-
vice to all the italian bishops has been
that they should cultivate friendly per-
sonal relations with the Italian officials
in their districts and with the members
of the reigning family, and this policy
has been carried out all along. so that
even the last trace of the antagonism
existing under the two preceding popes
between the clergy and the govern
ments authorities has now entirely dis