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Show TEMPORAL POWER OF PAPACY. (London Catholic Times.) An article which appeared in the Osservatore Romano of the 14th inst. has aroused unusual attention, at-tention, especially in diplomatic circles. The writer deals with the question of the Pope's temporal power, and there has been a good deal of speculation specula-tion as to his exact purport and meaning. We have the full text of the article now before us and are in a position to judge of the whole bearing of his words with a sense of confidence which a mere summary sum-mary could not inspire. To describe the writer's aim briefly, he combats the idea that the Sovereign Pontiff persists in the claim to temporal dominion merely for the love of power. The Pope looks upon it as a means of assuring the freedom and independence' of the Church, but if that freedom and independence could be gained in any other way. His Holiness, a Catholic might well believe, would be quite ready to renounce the claim to temporal tem-poral sway. The subject is dealt with historicaliy in order that the drift of the writer, who signs himself him-self "I," may be made more clear. It is shown that the civil principality arose when Byzantine rule, often schismatic and heretical, and always plaguing the empire and Christian society owing to the intrigues in-trigues of the palace, abandoned Rome and Italy to themselves after having plundered them. The Papal authority was gradually acknowledged in contrast to the authority of the eastern monarch-, and thus the Papal dominion came into existence through the gift of the people. Xo sovereignty could be more legitimate, and the Church could not therefore allow any controversy as to the propriety of its origin or the excellence of its effects with regard re-gard to liberty and independence. But the Church is not represented by a dynastic dynas-tic head whose house enjoys a family succession, nor does earthly grandeur raise the Pontiff above common human condition. And the office that has been assigned to him for the promotion of the welfare wel-fare of humanity demands that he be ever ready to subordinate all individual interests, whether of the pastor or of the members of the flock, to the higher interests of the flock as a whole. Whilst, then, the j Church defends its right to judicial independence arid liberty in the way ' in " which it has been doing, do-ing, being of itself unable to find any better way. on tbe day when one better or an equally good one i will be found it may be as.-umod that the Church will do without the civil principality ami will not regret, the loss as. if ir diminished i-s strength or dignity. We do not know what the relation-; between the j writer and the Holy Father may !e. or whether the views of His Holiness he exactly brought out. If appears to us. however, that -ueh an article, would scarcely be published in a journal which, as is well known, usually speaks for the Holy See in at lea-t an unofficial sense were t he sent imeut s ii express's j at variance with those of the Holy Father. l( ir,. conveys his mind, its importance cannot, well be overestimated, for it opens up a new page in the history of the Catholic Church. Practically the attitude of the writer towards the temporal-power of the Papacy is this: That it was designed by Providence for -the advancement of Chri-tianiiy and civilization, but, that, now. except for the purpose pur-pose of guaranteeing the Church's liberty and independence, in-dependence, the necessiiy for it has ceased. In other words. His Holiness only seeks to be guaranteed I the freedom and independence essential for the j discharge of his exalted duties. The actual terms upon which such an arrangement may be eoncludt d is for His Holiness to fix definitely. Jt is prerty clear that he is anxious to be as generous a- pe--sible towards the Italian monatvhy. and that if the king is prepared to enter into negotiations, he will find His Holiness both qoiieiliaiory and moderate, j But it is manife-t that something more than an agreement with the King of Italy is contemplated. I The Catholic Church is a world wide organization. organiza-tion. The Pontiff's subjects are to be found in every country, and his freedom to make provision for their spiritual welfare i a matter which concerns all rulers. A guarantee of international character is accordingly needed. The vast change in ecclesiastical policy whereof this article may perhaps be regarded as the turning turn-ing point will, we feel sure, cause no iiti-giviniis either to the ecclesiastical authorities or u the Catholic faithful throughout the world. True, the Popes as temporal ruler- performed splendid work for the world, breaking down feudal tyranny and asserting the power of ihe peopie. As Villeinaiu somewhere remarks, the ineradicable liberty of ihe -human spirit availed it-elf of the tiara in order to fight against material forces. But great as is the- V work that was accomplished, the side lights which history casts on the events connected with it are not all of a kind to cause pride. There are humiliating humili-ating episodes, such as the attempt of French mon-archs mon-archs to make Popes during their stay at Avignon the instruments of their policy, fn the future the power of the Church will be all the purer becau-e it will be entirely spiritual and five from the dro-s j which inevitably (dings to whatever is human. And ' the more thoroughly the Catholic church prepares itself for becoming a greater spiritual power than it is or ever has been, the better will it be for ir and for .humanity. In a noteworthy article which he contributed a week or s. ago lo the Daily Chronicle, and which has provoked a good deal of correspondence, correspond-ence, the Rev. Dr. Barrey deplored the tendency to unbelief which is sU evident in modern days. Undoubtedly the outlook is not satisfactory. But amidst all the infidelity of the present time there is a restlessness betokening a deire for faith. Through neglect of religious practices," carelessness, careless-ness, indifference an intellectual pride, men have lapsed into Naturalism, but all the time their hearts keep calling for the consolation of religion and the hope it begets. Sooner or later many of them will obey its promptings, and when they once turn to Christianity, the only Church that can claim their allegiance is tlie strong, united, independent, fearless Catholic church. |