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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, November 26, 1867

Address of the Pope to the Officers of the French Troops.

PARIS, November 14.—Previous to the departure of the French troops from Rome, the Holy Father received the staff officers in a body, in the audience chamber of the Vatican, and addressed them in a most feeling manner. He expressed his happiness at having soldiers of France around him once more, but never had his happiness been so great as now, because of the recent peril to which he had been exposed. He returned thanks to the officers, to France and to the Emperor Napoleon for the deliverance of the Holy See. He was filled with grief to see that Italy had sent out as a vanguard against Rome a horde of anarchists upon whose flags were inscribed rapine and devastation. While the valor of the Pontifical troops had successfully defended the soil of the church, the army of France had come to crown the splendid defense. The Pope concluded by saying that, in the midst of his troubles, he had the consolation of receiving sincere expressions of Catholic sympathy from all parts of the world. His holiness then terminated the interview by giving his Apostolic blessing to the army, the people and the Emperor of France.