The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1913-01-09
By Henry Wood.

(Rome Correspondent of the United
Press.)
ROME, Jan. 9.-The prominence into
which Gear Ferdinand of Bulgaria has
brought himself by his brilliant part
in the Balkan war, has resulted in an
agitation here to ascertain definitely
whether he is still under a ban of ex-
communication by the Catholic church.
Two facts tend to indicate that he has
effected private reconciliation with
the pope. Thus far, however, the Vat
lean has not admitted this publicly. so
the doubt still exists.
Ferdinand's trouble with the clr,rch
arose from his desire to insure for $
heir asuccessful and happy reign. The
car himself has always been a
staunch Catholic and when lis first
marriage was contracted with q Bour-
bon princess of the Italian branch of
the family known as the Dukes of
Parma, the ceremony was performed
according to the Catholic rites
When the heir, Prince noris, was
born, he, too, was baptized into the
Catholic church. Between this time,
however, and the time when it was
necessary for the baby prince to re-
ceive the 'cresima," Gar Fertinan.I
had time to think matters over AS
consequence, when the 'cresima"
formed in the Greek Orthodox church,
the national church of Bulgaria ard
one of the schismatic branches of he
Church of Rome, the latter being thus
abjured by the baby prince, although |
solely through the will of the father.
Warm Talk From POntiff.
Ferdinand made no secret of the fact
that this was solely to win the prince
he support of the national clergy and
% unite him more closely to the Bull
sarian people. This reason of state,'
however, failed utterly to appeal to
Pope Leo XIII. and he made his dis
pleasure known so emphatically that
ferdinand fastened to the Vatican and
ought to explain the necessity of his
ction. From all that ever became
ublicly known, the pope not only re-
used to be convinced, but subjected
he warlike descendant of the Bona
artes to a lecture which was for a /,
)ng time the talk and wonder of
.ome Ferdinand returned to Sofia
nd diplomatic relations between his
0urt and the Vatican, while not act
ally broken, were strained to the ut
,rmost.
The car was given to understand
lat, under the canons of the Catholic
lurch there was nothing for him to
but to consider himself excommuni-
ted.
In spite of this some three years
70, following the death Of his first
fe, when he wished to form a second
lance with Princess Elizabeth of
'sia, a Protestant, Ferdinand asked
e pope's consent. Nor was consent
er publicly given or the excommuni-
ton publicly withdrawn.
the marriage, accord
3 to the Catholic rite, not only event
lily took place, but it was blessed
Monsignor Menimi, the apostolic
legate to Sofia.
Menimi was not only
yer rebuked for this but he con-
ues in his post at Sofia, an infalli-
sign, it is considered, that the pope
S not displeased with the action.
Recent Declaration Suspicious.
The recent declaration that Car
rdinand had notified his holiness
It in the event the Bulgarian troops
jer Constantinople, the cathedral of
mt Sophia will be restored to the
!, of the Roman Catholic church
also regarded as suspicious.
Is result, it is generally believed
t the car has found Pope Plus,
o has interested himself very little