The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-10-12
BY WILHELM HoHENzoLLERN


Much has been written and said
about my relations with the Church. |
Even when / was still a Prince, and
student at Bonn, / realized the harm
full influence of the Kulturkampf in its
last phase. The religious rift did so
much toward antagonism that once,
for example, | was directly boycotted,
while on hunting expedition, by
members of leading noble Rhenish-
Westphalian families of the Rhineland
belonging to the Ultra Montana party.
Even as far back as that | resolved,
in the interests of the national well
fare, to work toward creating modus
vivendi such as would make it pos
sible for people protesting the two
creeds to live peacefully with each
other The Kulturkampf, as such, had
come to an end before the beginning
of my reign.
l strove patiently and earnestly to
he on good terms with the Bishops,
and l was on very friendly terms with
several especially Cardinal Kopp,
Archbishop Simar, DR.. Schultz, Prince
bishop Bertram, Bishop Thiel, and,
last but not least, Archbishop Faul
Ihaber and Cardinal Won Hartmann. All
iof these were men far above the av
pate, who gave proof during the war
of their patriotic devotion to Emperor
and Empire This shows that / had
/ succeeded in clearing away the mists
! of the Kulturkampf and enabling my
,fCatholic subjects, like others, to re-
joice in the empire, in accordance with
the motto: SUM cuique Ito each his
OWN.
| was bound particularly closely all
! my life to Cardinal Kopp, Prince-Bish-
Nop of Breslau. He always served me
0pyally, so that my relationship to him
as most trusting OF much value to
Swas his mediation in dealings with
49, Vatican, where he stood in high
b., although he championed abso-
" the German point of view.
Friendship for Pope Leo XIII.
.Dbably little is known by the gen.
public of the friendly, trusting
Aonship that existed between me
Pope Leo Kill A prelate who
close TO him told me later that /
Il won the confidence of the Pope
qy first visit by the absolute frank
n which | showed toward him and
" which l told him things which
ofs Intentionally kept from his
G.
sceptions by the Pope were con-
ded with tremendous pomp. Swiss
al Noble Guards, in brilliant uni
lorSls, servants, chamberlains, and &c
clesiastical dignitaries, were present
in large numbers-a miniature repre-
sentation of the might of the Roman
Catholic Church.
After | had traversed the courts,
nails and drawing rooms, in which all
hese men had arrayed themselves,
aated myself opposite the Pope him
in his little one-windowed study
e distinguished gentleman, with the
e, noble-featured old face, whose
Is gazed piercingly at his visitor,
de a deep impression upon me. We
Gussed many timely subjects.
y greatly pleased that the Pope
ske appreciatively and gratefully OF
| tlposition occupied in Germany by
| thatholic religion and its adherents,
| ang the assurance that he, for his
d would contribute toward having
th1erman Catholics yield to no other
Gnans in love for their fatherland
= in loyalty.
a 7ope Leo XIII. gave evidences oil
endliness toward me whenever he
juld For instance, on the occasion
f one of my visits to Rome, he &C
orded my suite and servants the
pnor of a special audience; he sent
rince-Bishep Kopp as Papal Dele
ate on the occasion of the consecra
on bys me of the portal, which l hao
Id added to the cathedral at Metz
Id was so kind as to inform me OF
le naming of Archbishop Fischer Of
)Iogne as Cardinal, which was done
celebrate that day.
If InhiiPe
1903 to celebrate the twenty-fifth
uiversary of his accession to the
pacy. | sent a special mission &c
6yev nv congratulations to the Pope
tthe head of which was Freiherr vor
L. for many years intimately &C
qinted with him.
lot long after that-and only a few
mths before his DEATH paid m!
Thu and last visit to the Pope
Thigh he was very weak, this ninety
thr-year-old man came up to me
holhg both his hands outstretched
Con,rning this visit, which wa
characterized by great cordially OIL
both des, | Immediately otted dow
some ntes, which recently came int
my possession again.
Tie Poe said, among other things
tina, he cold not but give his full ar
prevail to tie principles according t
which | governed; that he had 70
loved with interest my methods c
governing and recognized with pie;
sure that l had Suilt up my rule on
foundation of firm Christianity; tina
such lofty religious principles under
A lay it that it behooved him to ask th
2 blessing of Heaven upon myself, m
dynasty and the German Empire, an
ftoIgrant me his apostolic bsnedictiol
"Sword of Catholic Church"
1t was of interest 10 me that til
Pope said to me on this occasion ths