Evening star., 1939-02-10
'ius X Famed Pope Of Conciaon for Italian Settlement

WHICH was more 1ully cOnSummaCeQ
when Plus recognized the diocesan
associations" the joint committees
Of laymen and clericals for the adj
ministration of the French churches.
But not all was change with Pope
f:us. He held firmly to the historic
position Of the church and by every
means at his disposal sought to extend
It's influence and build up its mem
bership. Jealous in all things that
would aid missionary activity, he
backed the Congregation for Propa-
CATION Of the Faith by word and deed.
He revived, too, the eucharistic con-
crosses that had languished through
the years Of the World War and in
successive biennials organized by per-
sonal attention gatherings Of Cath
olics from all parts OF the world at
Rome. Amsterdam, Chicago, Sydney
and Carthage. These great congresses
occurred in successive biennials start
ing In 1922 and Plus himself said that
they constituted an enormous influ-
ence in perpetuating reverence and
church loyalty among the commune
| SoA4go VI ldIlO6s
Made Overtures
To Eastern Churches.
He also made overtures for closer
relation with the Russian Orthodox
and other Eastern churches and man.
tested interest in all movements look
Ing toward Christian unity. He made
| fInt to ityy
was to include the Roman church, 1t
could be brought about only by a re-
turn Of all other sects to the juris-
diction of the Holy See. In fact, in
October, 1928, he issued an encyclical
declaring that restoration of the church
status which existed up to the time OF
the Lutheran reformation and the
secession Of the Anglican church from
jurisdiction Of the Popes was the only
basis which he could consider for
church unity.
He made 1925 "holy year" and In
accordance with an ancient custom
battered at the closed door Of St.
Peters as the opening ritual of that
observance. Twelve months later he
as tremendously closed the sacred
portal. The calendar year 1929 was
set aside as special period of jubilee
observance in honor Of his half CEN
tury in the priesthood and 1t was OBJ
served throughout with pilgrimages
and ceremonies that were in full ac-
cord with the traditions and history
OF the church.
His insistence upon these aspects of
his of11ce led to a sharp controversy
with Premier MuSsolini Of Italy when
the Pope denounced the Fascist pro-
gram OF education. He maintained
that 1t was the function Of the church
and Of the church alone to train the
youth Of all lands The Italian pre-
mier, as insistently held to the doc
trine that youth belonged to the state
and that it was the government which
should say how the boys and girls
was to be educated into citizenship.
The Concordat Of 1929, which was
one OF the pacts in settlement of "the
Roman question" contained clause
by which the state permitted religious
instruction in primary and secondary
schools, but this did not fully meet
the contentious of either the church.
man or the statesman and the dispute
was never definitely settled.
Title Was Heightened
BY Lateran Accords.
The Popes full title was:
"His holiness the Pope.
Bishop of Rome and Vicar Of
Jesus Christ.
Successor of st. Peter, prince of
the Apostles.
Supreme pontif1 of the universal
church.
Patriarch of the West.
"Primate of Italy.
Archbishop and metropolitan Of
the Roman province.
Sovereign of the temporal do
minions of the holy Roman Church
and sovereign of Vatican City"
The last f1ve-word phrase was
added in 1880 after the Lateran
accords had become accomplished
facts And. despite all the mission
ary zeal of Plus. his endeavor to
bring the schismatic Eastern
churches back to the tutelage of
Rome, his encyclical inviting Chris
tians of all lands to return to the
fold of ST. Peter, his success in pla-
eating France and his actions re-
garding Mexico and Russia, he prob
ably will 60 down in history rather
as the inspirer and negotiator Of
those Lateran pacts.
The treaties, three in number,
were signed February II, 1929, by
the then papal secretary of state,
Cardinal Gasparri. and Premier
Mussolini. After they had been ap-
prove by Pope Plus and King Victor
Emmanuel they went into full effect
on June 7 of that year.
BY the treaties the "law of guar
anties," passed by Italy in 1870, but
never accepted by the Popes because
it was unilateral act, was annulled.
The Italian state supplanted it by
an acknowledgment of the plenary
power and juridical sovereignty of
the pontiff over the Vatican City
state.
This small realm of ITO acres was
recognized as pontifical territory in
absolute dominion. In return the
Holy See acknowledged the Kingdom
Of Italy in its territory and constitu-
ton, with Rome as the capital and
the House of Savoy as the ruling
family.
Italy, moreover, paid 1,75O,O00, 900
lire (about $S7, ,500,O0O to the Holy
See as compensation for spoliation
OF papal territory in the 1860-70
period, when the kingdoms unity
was being forged in the fires of war
The "law of guarantees" had provid-
ed larger sum for that purpose by
annual payments and interest, but
the Pope waived that point and his
generosity enhanced his popularity
in Italy.