Connecticut western news., 1906-12-13
ANXIETY IN VATICAN
Church Officials Are Troubled by Frances Expulsion of PapaI
 Representative.
POPE PIUS REMAINS CALM

Pontiff Not Downcast by Situation Con-
 sidered Graver Than Any That Has
 Occurred Since Loss of Temporal
 Power-Expelled Diplomat Subject of
 Italian King.
 Rome, Dec 12.-The expulsion from France of Mgr. Montagnini, secretary of the papal nunciature at Paris, who has represented the Vatican at the French capital since the recall of the nuncio, has caused not only astonish- ment, but consternation, at the Vati- can.
 According to Vatican officials, this step is an evident proof that the French government wishes not only to strike at the church as religious institution, but to represent it as an enemy of the republic and allied with the republics foes. Furthermore, the officials char acterize this step as taken in Il spirit of meanness. as the French government knows the Vatican cannot because of its position indulge in similar action as a reprisal with the individual who is looking after French interests in Rome.
 The fact that diplomatic relations be- tween France and the Vatican were ruptured two years ago adds to the difficulty at the Vatican. NJ. Nisard, the see, having left Rome in 1901. Mgr. Montagnini stayed on in Paris after the departure of the papal Runcio in or der to deal with certain matters pend ing between France and tbe church. It is observed here that possibly Mgr. Montagnini remained in Paris too long.
 Pope Plus Hard at Work.
 A curious phase of the situation is that Mgr. Montagniuf, being an Italian subject, any protest against his ex- pulsion or the searching of his house must be communicated to the French government through the Italian gov ernment.
 Contrary to his usual habit the pope remained up until a late hour for the purpose of personally reading the tele- grams and going over certain docu- ments concerning the situation in France. With him at work is Cardinal Merry del Val. the papal secretary of state, who is proving an interchangeable assistant Both the pope and the car dinal are being aided by the substitute secretary of state, Mgr. del la Chiesa. and the secretary extraordinary of ec- clesiasticaI affairs, Mgr. Gasparri. Per sons thoroughly familiar with Vatican affairs declare that no such excitement and apprehension have prevailed at the Vatican since the loss of temporal pow CT. The pope is described as calmer than any member of his entourage. He is reported to have said:
 ''Man cannot fathom all the designs of Providence. Perhaps the present trfbulations are intended only to quick en and emphasize the ultimate and in- evitable triumph of the church"
 French Catholics Divided.
 According to reports received at the Vatican, the Catholics of France are divided into two classes-those who identify the interests of the church with their own political interests, using the church to further the antirepublican agitation, and those who think only of the interests of the church. The former are delighted at everything uneondf- tionally papal and intransigent, and the latter are grieved at situation which makes it impossible to be good patriots and good Catholics at the same time.
 Many cipher telegrams are being ex. changed between the Vatican and Car dfnal Richard, the archbishop of Paris who has been intrusted to ascertain if the expulsion from France of Mgr Montagnini and the searching of his house are in violation of French law The Italian foreign office has not re ceived any communication from the Italian ambassador at Paris concern ing this incident. and it is does not know whether Mgr. Montagnini has asked for the protection of the Italian government or not