The Nations and the Vatican.
The Roman correspondent of the Western Watchman says that it is “with pleasure that one finds France aspiring to negotiations with the Holy See, Spain affirming and reaffirming her recognition of the pope as sovereign, Austria treating with the holy father on her rights in the East, and Germany declaring by the mouth of William II her satisfaction at the cordial relations of church and state. . . . Somebody said recently that every nation in Europe feels itself called upon to go to war. He might have added most of them are anxious to come to terms with the Holy See regarding the Catholic protectorate. Austria casts longing eyes at the protectorate of Servian Catholics, while Servia, to escape a shadow of vassalage, would make a concordat with Rome. Albania, Turkey, France and probably Germany, will have a word to say on the same question.” The same correspondent also says that “not since the times of Leo XIII has Rome seen a display of more universal sympathy than has been evoked by the death of the eldest sister of Pius X. Crowned heads, presidents of republics, cardinals, bishops, societies, and private persons have sent wires of condolence to the august brother.” We note this, not as a mark of sympathy in particular, for sympathy is always good, but showing the feeling toward the Papacy manifest throughout the world.