Pius X May Abandon Vatican Imprisonment
It is reported that Pope Pius X is giving evidence of holding sentiments quite divergent from those of Pius IX and Leo XIII regarding the necessity of remaining a “prisoner” in the Vatican, and it is believed there may shortly be seen a change of the papal policy in this respect. Ever since Rome became the capital of United Italy, and ceased to be the seat of the pope’s temporal dominion, the Roman pontiff has confined himself in the Vatican, styling himself a prisoner, though the Italian government has put no obstacle whatever in the way of his personal freedom. Neither Pius IX nor Leo XIII would do anything which might be construed as indicating a cessation of active protest against the loss of the temporal power and an acquiescence in the change which had put the Quirinal in the place of the Vatican in the government of Rome. The hope of the restoration of the pope’s temporal power has grown more and more dim, however, and with the advent of the new pope, who has a strong aversion to confinement in the Vatican, there are signs that the tradition of “imprisonment” may be dropped from the pontiff’s policy, and the spectacle of a pope traveling about Italy, and perhaps even going to other lands, be seen as in former times. Such is the meaning attached by some to a recent statement of Pius X, promising to return a visit paid to him by the proprietor of an abbey situated at some distance from the “eternal city.”