Note and Comment by L. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Jan 12, 1905

Note and Comment

By L. A. S.

AMONG the many significant developments which crowd upon one another in these times, one is reported from Rome which is “of obvious interest to the whole Catholic world.” The Rome correspondent of a New York paper “has been informed on the highest authority that Pope Pius X and his secretary of state, Cardinal Merry del Val, have determined to introduce a radical change in the policy of the Vatican toward the civil power in Italy.” This will overturn what has been a prominent feature in the diplomatic situation in Europe for more than thirty years.

The chief cause of this proposed modification of papal policy appears to be the rise and recent growth of socialism, in which the papacy and the Italian government recognize a common foe. Pope Pius has before his eyes the antagonism of this political class to the papacy in France, where it is said the Radical-Socialist party is now dominant in the government. Ever since Pius IX was deprived of his temporal power by King Victor Immanuel, in 1870, Catholic subjects in Italy have been forbidden to take part in any parliamentary election, and the absence of the Catholic vote has finally given to the Socialists a degree of political power which has forced the Vatican to consider whether an alliance with the Quirinal is not expedient on the ground of self-preservation.

In the recent general election in Italy many Catholics participated, and to their vote is ascribed the rescue of “the party of order” in the government from possible defeat. The Rome correspondent before mentioned states that the papal injunction non expedit, forbidding Catholics to vote, though not formally lifted, will henceforth be suffered to become a dead letter; and the proof of this which he cites is that the permission under which Italian Catholics have voted the past year emanated directly from the papal secretary of state. It is further said that the Vatican is prepared to co-operate with the government to the extent of discouraging the formation of any clerical party in the Italian Parliament.

Such a reconciliation between the church and state in Italy could not fail to effect an important change in the status of the papacy in Europe and throughout the world. It must naturally bring a great increase of papal prestige. Thus events are moving on to the fulfilment of the part to be played by the papal power in the dramatic scenes with which earth’s history will be concluded.

L. A. S.