The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-01-02
GAR FERDINAND
AND THE POPE
Ruler Of Bulgaria Was Excommuni-
Gated From Catholic Church
by Pope Leo Before Soc
ond Marriage.
LIS NOW BACK IN FAVOR
Although Not officially Made Public
il Is Thought That the
Trouble Has Reen
Settled.
[By Henry Wood. Rome correspon-
dent Of the United Press.l

dent Of the United Press.l
ROME, January D.. The promi-
nence into which Gar Ferdinand Of
Bulgaria has brought himself by his
brilliant part In the Balkan war has
resulted in an agitation here to as.
certain definitely whether he Is still
under a ban Of accommodation by
the Catholic church. Two facts tend
to Indicate that he has affected pri-
vate reconciliation with the pope.
Thus far, however. the vatican has
not admitted this publicly, so the
doubt still exists.
Ferdinand's trouble with the church
rose from his desire to insure for his
heir a successful and happy reign.
The car himself has always been a
s.aunch Catholic and when his first
marriage was contracted with Bour
bon princess of the Italian branch or
the family known as the Dukes of
Parma, the ceremony WAS performer
according to the Catholic rites.
Later, when the heir, Prince Boris,
was born, he too was baptized into
the Catholic church. Between this
time, however, and the time when II
was necessary for the baby prince to
receive the "cresima,' Gar Ferdinand
had time to think matters over. AS a
consequence when the "cresima" was
given the ceremony was performed
in the Orthodox church. the ma
tional church Of Bulgaria and one OF
the schismatic branches of the church
OF Rome, the latter being thus alb
jured by the baby prince, although
solely through the will OF the father.
Ferdinand made no secret OF the
/ fact that this was solely to win the
| prince the support of the national
| clergy and to unite him more closely
| to the Bulgarian people. This "rea.
son Of state. however, failed utterly
1 to appeal to Pope Leo XIII and he
made his displeasure known SO en-
| phatically that Ferdinand fastened to
| the vatican and sought to explain
the necessity Of his action. From all
that ever became publicly known, the
pope not only refused to be convinc-
4 ed, but subjected the warlike descend.
ant Of the Bonapartes to lecture
which was for long time the talk
and wonder OF Rome Ferdinand re.
turned to Sofia, diplomatic relations
between his court and the vatican
while not actually broken, were
4 strained to the uttermost and the
car was given to understand that TN
der the canons OF the Catholic church
there was nothing for him to do but
consider himself communicated.
In spite of this, some three years
ago. following the death Of his first
wife, when he wished to form sec
ond alliance with Princess Elizabeth
of Asia, a protestant, Ferdinand ask
ed the pope's consent to have the
mixed marriage performed according
to the Catholic rite. Nor was con
sent ever publicly given or the ex
communication publicly Withdrawn
Nevertheless the marriage according
to the Catholic rite, not only even
tually took place but It was ever
blessed by Monsignor Menini, the
apostolic delegate to Sofia.
j, Monsignor Menini was not only
never rebuked for this but he con
tinues in his post at Sofia. an infal
, lible sign, 1t is considered. that tht
pope was not displeased with hi:
! action.
| The recent declaration that GA
| Ferdinand had notified his holiness
) that In the event the Bulgarian
!, troops enter Constantinople. tn,
: cathedral Of Saint Sophia will be re
stored to the use of the Roman Cath
Ole church is also regarded as sus
picious.
Az result II is generally believed