734 



ROMAN CATHOLIC CHUECH. 



populations on whom the light of the Gospel has not 

 shone. In their manner of living, a sham of human 

 culture may be presented, but solid and true results 

 for good are wanting. 



By no manner of means is that to be accounted a 

 perfection of civil life in which any legitimate power 

 whatsoever is brazenly set at defiance. Nor is that 

 to be esteemed liberty that prowls around, in a vile 

 and shameful way, by a reckless propagation of er- 

 rors, by giving loose rein to depraved desires, by 

 offering impunity to wrongs and crimes, and by ter- 

 rorizing the best of every class of citizens. 



For, since these are wrong, wicked, and out of 

 order, they have no power to advance the human 

 family, or to procure happiness : Miseros autem facit 

 populos peccatum (Prov. xiv. 34). It is of certain 

 truth that intellects corrupted, and hearts also, popu- 

 lations must be plunged into every trouble, and 

 shaken out of condition, and, sooner or later, come 

 to ruin. 



But, in regard to the Roman Pontiffs and their 

 works, what could be more unjust than to impeach the 

 Popes of Rome in regard to the interests of all civil 

 society, of which they have so greatly merited the 

 thanks ? Our predecessors, most truly, for the ad- 

 vantage of populations, have never hesitated to enter 

 into conflicts of every kind, to undertake the most 

 difficult labors, and to expose themselves to the 

 rudest difficulties. Their eyes turned toward heaven, 

 they have been deaf alike to the threats of the wicked, 

 and to the flatteries or solicitations that sought to 

 make them waver in their duty. 



It was this Holy See that gathered and molded the 

 remnants of the old society that had fallen into decay. 

 It was the friendly torch that showed the way to 

 the human kindness that beamed over Christian 

 ages. It was the anchor of safety in cruel tempests 

 by which the human race was tossed. It was the 

 one sacred bond of concord that held together na- 

 tions, otherwise separated, and differing in their 

 customs. Finally, it was the common center whence 

 not only teaching of faith and practice was sought, 

 but also counsel and rulings in regard to peace aim 

 the settlement of disputes. Why multiply words ? 

 It is the glory of the Popes that they ever stood as a 

 wall and a bulwark to prevent human society from 

 sinking back again into its former barbarism and 

 superstition ! 



Oh that this salutary authority had never been 

 neglected nor repudiated ! Then civil authority had 

 never lost the august and sacred glory that belongs 

 to it of right, and which alone makes noble and 

 worthy of man the condition of obedience to law. 

 Then never could there have broken forth so many 

 and such seditions and wars, that have laid waste 

 all lands, with slaughters and devastations. Nor 

 would countries once so flourishing have fallen from 

 the height of their prosperity, to experience the pres- 

 sure of adversity. The peoples of the Orient are 

 conspicuous examples. They broke away from the 

 gentle bands that tied them to this Apostolic See; 

 and they have lost their political autonomy, and 

 with it the splendor of their ancient nobility of char- 

 actor, and the glory they had in the arts and sci- 

 ences. 



But, while other countries may attest the benefits 

 flowing from union with the Apostolic See, in one 

 aj?e after another, the region of Italy stands, in this 

 respect, preeminent ; because, being nearest, it has 

 received the richer fruits of it. 



To the Roman Pontiffs, assuredly, Italy owes the 

 substantial glory and magnificence in which she 

 shines amone the nations of the world. Their au- 

 thority and fatherly care many a time shielded Italy 



ora the attacks of enemies, and furnished aid and 

 help, that the Catholic Faith should ever be kept 

 true in the hearts of Italians. Examples, to pass by 

 others, are to be found in our predecessors St. Leo 

 the Great, Alexander III. Innocent III., St. Pius 

 V., Leo A., and other Pontiffs, by whose labors and 



protection Italy emerged safe from destruction by 

 barbarians, kept the ancient faith uncorrupted, and, 

 in the night and misery of ruder times, fostered the 

 light of science and the splendor of the arts, and 

 kept them flourishing. This our city, the See of the 

 Popes, is a witness. Not only is it the best fur- 

 nished citadel of the faith, but the asylum and home 

 of the fine aits; and, as such, has drawn to it the 

 recognition and admiration of the whole world. 

 Since the grandeur of these results has passed into 

 history, it is easy to understand that only by evil 

 purpose and vile calumny, for the deceiving of men, 

 can it be uttered, and printed, that this Holy See is 

 an obstacle to the civil culture and happiness of 

 Italy. If, therefore, all the hopes of Italy, and of 

 the whole world, are so closely attached to that 

 most salutary power which the authority of the 

 Holy See fully possesses, for the common advantage 

 and good, and all the faithful, bound by closest 

 bonds to the Roman Pontiff', there is nothing more 

 clearly our duty than to maintain whole and unim- 

 paired the dignity of the Roman See, and hold to- 

 gether more and more closely the union of the mem- 

 bers of the Church with its Head, of its children 

 with their Father. 



Wherefore, first of all, in every way we can, \\e 

 must assert the rights and the liberty of this Holy 

 See. We can never cease to urge the obedience due 

 to our authority, that the hindrances may be taken 

 away that stop the full freedom of our ministry and 

 power, and that we may be restored to the estate in 

 which the judgment of Divine Wisdom established 

 the Prelates of Rome. 



We are moved to the demand of this restitution, 

 Venerable Brethren, by no craftiness of ambition, by 

 no greed of power. It is because of the duty we 

 have to accomplish. It is because we are bound to 

 do it by the sacred oath we have taken. 



And, moreover, not only because this temporal 

 principality is necessary to guarding and keeping 

 the entire 'freedom of the spiritual power, but be- 

 cause it is most surely proved that, when the tem- 

 poral power of the Apostolic See is in question, it 

 regards also intimately public welfare and the peace 

 of the whole human family. 



And here we may not fail to recall, as part of our 

 duty, by which we are bound to preserve the rights 

 of the Church, what our predecessor, Pius IX., of 

 holy memory, uttered and repeated, against the oc- 

 cupation of the civil principality, as well as against 

 the violation of the rights belonging to the Roman 

 Church. These, we, in this Encyclical Letter, re- 

 new, and confirm in every manner. 



At the same time we address our voice to the 

 princes and rulers of peoples, and, in the awful 

 name of God Most High, again and again we implore 

 them that they will not reject the aid of the Church, 

 offered to them in a time so necessary. We beseech 

 them that, with united consent, they will agree to 

 gather in amity^ around this source of authority and 

 of succor, and join themselves to it, more and more, 

 by the pleasant yoke of love and of respect. May 

 God bring it to pass that they, appreciating the 

 truth we speak, and considering with themselves 

 that, as St. Augustine says, " the doctrine of Christ, 

 if obeyed, would be a great deliverance for a republic," 

 and that in the safety and respect for the Church 

 they would find their own and the public safety in- 

 cluded, would turn their thoughts and their en- 

 deavors to relieving the wrongs by which the 

 Church and its Visible Head are afflicted ; and that 

 so it may come about that the peoples they govern, 

 entering the paths of peace and justice, may enjoy a 

 happy epoch of prosperity and glory ! 



But you, Venerable Brethren, that the concord of 

 the entire Catholic flock with its Supreme Pastor may 

 be continually increased, arid made more intimate, 

 we appeal to you now with an especial affection, end 

 earnestly exhort you, as kindled with the Icve of our 

 boly rehgion, that, with sacerdotal zeal and pastoral 



