The Pope Is a King

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 6, 1887

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 13, No. 39.

The Pope Is a King

The Pope is a king. He says so himself. And doesn't that prove it? for isn't he infallible? In view of his approaching jubilee Leo XIII. has had struck a number of medals bearing the inscription: "Pope Leo XIII., Pontifex et rex." Now rex is Latin for king, and that inscription means Pope Leo XIII., Pontiff and king. The Roman police found some of these medals on sale in a shop in the city and promptly confiscated them. At this the Vatican makes a decided protest, and argues that the "law of guaranties" recognizes the Pope's right to the title of sovereign; and supports this argument with the fact that Bismarck in his letter to the Pope about two years ago plainly addressed him as "sire." Now in the language of courts, "sire" means "sovereign"; and as a king is a sovereign, and as Bismarck called the Pope "sire," therefore the Pope is king. Don't you see? But in the argument there is vastly more of spiritual pride, religious despotism, and political arrogance, than there is of logic.