Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-07-06
THE VATICAN PRISONER
Puts x Feels the Effects Of Con.
anement.
The Pope Ia Working 70 Establish Bet.
ter Understanding with the italian
Authorities on the Basis Of the
Laws Of Guarantee.

The usual rumors have been started this |
year that the Pope has arranged to leave
Rome and go for few weeks to the papai |
villa at Castegandolfo. To say the least. |
the rumors are premature. says the Rome |
of the Boston Transcript |
II is not to be denied that Plus X feels |
heavily the effect of the long confinement
in tho limited enclosure of tho Vatican, |
and that he Is DESTROYS Of putting an end
to a state OF affairs which has been of no
advantage to the church for 80 years. Tho
resolution made by Plus TX, and strictly
adhered to by his successor. Leo XIII, |
to remain prisoner In the Vatican so
long as the Italian government held
possession of Rome. has long ceased to
serve as n practical protest Of the Holy
See against the usurpation of the papai
States and the loss of no temporal pow
or. and has not changed the conditions
created for the Vatican by the occupation
of Rome. This conclusion has been reach
cd by Plus y and no is naturally anxious
to end the long confinement Of the Pope.
which has lasted 80 years. provided that
no act of his shall be interpreted as a
remuneration of all claims to compcnsa-
ton for tho loss of the temporal power
This Interpretation would surely be mado
of the action of the Pope in leaving the
Vatican without a previous understand
ing with the Italian officials.
For this reason Plus Y has been most
anxious, ever since his election to ar
rive at such understanding, and the at
tentions he has paid to Italian officials in
the past two years have gradually led
UP to negotiations which, it Is asserted,
arc now in Il fair way to be successful.
The basis of any understanding will
naturally be the laws OF guarantee that
were adopted by the Italian parliament
soon after the occupation of Rome. In
these laws it is provided that the Pope
shall be recognized as a sovereign with
in the State. enjoying sovereign honors
and exemptions and also special privi-
leges ana compensations for the loss of
the temporal power. Plus x has been
for months in touch with the officials of
the gov. rnmcnt and he now knows how
far the Italian government will be will
ing to stand by the laws OF guarantee in
case he shall waive his claims to tho
temporal dominion Of he papacy. ending
| is long struggle with the government.
| or course nearly all the provisions made
in the laws of guarantee would have to
be observed by the Italian government,
as they constitute an offer made to the
Pope as exchange for his sovereign do
mnion over the papal States. Some mod
ifications. however. have already been
suggested by Italian officials. and these
the Vatican is now considering. One Of
tho points under discussion relates to the
annual compensation which the Italian
government agreed to pay tho Pope in
exchange for the revenue from the papal
States. In the laws of guarantee this
was fixed at $644.Oo0 a year, and the
Italian officials have informed the Vati-
can that the government will stand by
its original agreement. There is how
ever, "a question of arrears which, as
the Pope has never accepted any of the
MONEY laid aside for him by the gov
lcrnni"nt. would now after "a years,
amount to more that $32.00O.ObO This is
too large a sum for the Ita liam govern
mcnt to pay from its treasury and there
lis besides the claim of the government
that the amount would have fallen under
prescription every five years. Plus is
said TO have decided that ii would be but
reasonable 10 allow some of the claims of
the government in this particular, and
to be ready to agree to Il rcnunciatio ion OF
the claim for arrears provided that The
government will consent to add the an
nual interest which would accrue from
them to the yearly compensation This
would bring the total to be received by the
Pope from the government up to 81 $1,000
and it is here thought likely that the
Italian officials will ultimately consent 10
lsuch arrangement.
On the part of tho Vatican authorities
the agreement to be entered into witt
the Italian officials would include moi
only the final remuneration of all rights
to the temporal power. but also the rec.
; ognition of Italian sovereignty in Rome
and the papal States. Plus Y has al
ready given explicit proof OF his nton
ton to agree on these points, by per
hitting Italian Catholics to take par
in the political elections OF the country
and has thus taken the first step in I'll,
, expected reconciliation.
Another point raised within a few day.
will have 10 be settled before the ncgo
tiations can he concluded The Vatican
; claims that the Pope bishop of thu
city of Rome. is entitled to some income
besides that which comes 10 him as hea,
, of the church, and as former sovercigi
of to papal States. Every bishop in Italy
whose diocesan property has been alb
sorbcd by the State. has been cndowc,
by the government with IA correspondent,
amount Of government bonds from which
he derives the annual income ncccssar,
for his support. This question cannot h
overlooked even in the ease of the Pope
as the italian government. has contiscate'
NEARLY all the properties the income o
which constituted the tcmporalitics of tn
See Of Rome. Following precedent IS
ltablshcd I'm the cases of other Italian
bishops the government will have to turf
> over number Of bonds to the holder o
the See, who in this instance 10 the hea
!, of the church. The matter is now undo
! discussion and 1t Is possible that an ar
9 rangcment will be arrived Mt. provide
the Pope agrees to waive the claim 70
arrears. as he il said to have done re
8 garding the amount agreed upon in tn
= laws of guarantee.
AS things stand Mt present the outloo
is promising for Il speedy agreement i
all details and then tho Pope will be ono
y more free to come out Of the Vatican a
>. Ibis will. and the Italian government wi
u have settled once and for all the Ions
standing claims of tho papacy because O
'. the loss of temporal power. new er
=. would begin for the church In Italy. wher
discussions and dissentions between tn
% Vatican and the Quirinal have ALLEVIATE
" - oh, n