ROME AND THE STATES OF THE CHURCH THE PAPAL METROPOLIS La préséance de Rome sur les autres villes de la Péninsule est consacrée par le temps,par la gloire, par l'admiration et la pièté de tous les peuples. La préséance du Pape résulte de sa titre de Pontife et représente la souverainté éternelle de Dieu, et ce caractère auguste permet aux plus grands rois de s'incliner devant lui. Ce n'est pas un maître, c'est un père ! NAPOLEON III et L'ITALIE. Independently of the associations of classic history, republi can or imperial, apart from the glories reflected by the arts of Christianity and antiquities of Paganism, Rome possesses characteristics that must interest every intelligent mind, as the seat of the most ancient Sovereignty in Europe; of a government uniquely constituted; of a religious system, first in ascendancy over the civilized world, that never has had, nor can have a parallel. At this period, while her political future is the subject of so much speculation, while many misappreqensions prevail as to the nature of authority and general conditions of society in the Papal Metropolis, whatever infor mation can be obtained free from partiality may be acceptable in assisting to appreciate a subject connected with so many interests of Christendom (1). It must be remembered that the temporal sovereignty of the Popes is a mere accident and adjunct to their spiritual supremacy, in no manner bound up with the system of their government over the Church, or any principle of doctrine proposed to the acceptance of the faithful, her subjects (2). Under three headings might be divided the opinions now prevalent respecting this vexata quaestio: that which altogether rejects and condemns the temporal power as abusive and tending to prejudice the spiritual; that which allows it to be, so to say, a fortunate accident providentially ordered, but not equally necessary or desirable at all epochs or in all states of society; and that which proclaims it absolutely requisite for the dignity and independence of ecclesiastical action and authority. Much has been, and may be, urged in support of each of these theories; but it is scarcely possi (1) Intelligence is now arriving, from day to day, of the defection of considerable cities and provinces from the Papal rule, all prompt to throw off an allegiance no longer paid with respect or answering to sympathies, and acknowledge the sovereign of another Italian state, in the ardour for liberal institutions, for a cause of nationality, a war against foreign intruders. The knell seems sounding for the last time in the ear of priestly government; and I write at a moment when the continued existence of temporal power attached to the throne of St. Peter depends absolulety on foreign support, when the alienation in mind and principle of an immense proportion among its hitherto subjects has become an historic fact, to warn the upholders of unpopular und feeble administration, to open the eyes of the deceiving and the deceived. June 20th. 1859. (2) Theologans maintain that the temporal sovereignty derives, not from divine right, but from the donation of Princes and prescription founded ou prolonged possession: thus Bellarmino: Directe nullius loci esse dominium temporale jure divino. (« De Summo Pont. » lib. V, cap. 4). one ble for the candid or well-informed to acquiesce in the pretensions of those who declare the identity of the temporal with the spiritual interests, as alike essential to the character of the Vicar of CHRIST, and denounce as anti-catholic, or revolutionary, all opinions or sympathies tending to opposite conclusions. Of such it may be asked, whether the divinely sanctioned authority was wanting to the Apostolic Martyrs who governed the See of Rome during about two centuries after the time of St. Peter? and was that high character in any way forfeited during the years of imprisonment and exile at Fontainebleau, Savona, and Gaeta? The utility, nay, necessity of the temporal power in the Middle Ages can scarcely be questioned: it was then, amid social tempests and storms of lawless passion, as the magic shield behind which the Pontiffs prepared their charmed agency for directing the destinies and influencing the moral life of Europe. Yet had it never been annexed to their more sacred office, would their Tiara may fairly ask have been eraved for the ends of worldly ambition; would the unworthy have so often intrigued and struggled to ascend the chair of St. Peter? that chair which, in the X century, was dishonoured by profligate usurpers, from which, in the XV century, were unseated by the Council of Constance three rival claimants at one blow, and to which it was certainly for the misfortune of the Church that, in more modern times, such candidates should have been elected as the Borgia, Della Rovere, and Medici. If purity of origin, if the attainment of territory through voluntary donation, or reverential concession, be claims on behalf of earth's powers or garantees for their duration, then assuredly must the Papal be allowed to possess the best of titles among existing monarchies, as its throne rests on foundations the most respectable, legitimate and undefiled. Like other institutions that have sprung from deeply rooted principles, or social requirements, the Sovereignty of the Popes was of gradual, almost imperceptible growth, neither the result of individual efforts, nor obtained by any thing like a conspiracy of ambition or a calculation of forces aimed stedfastly at success in the game of subjecting mankind. The Holy See alone of European sovereignties, possesses at this day almost the same extent of territory it owned ten centuries ago. Pepin and Charlemagne, the Emperors Lothaire, Louis, Henry and Otho, the Conntess Matilda, the Dukes of Urbino and Ferrara, confirmed or extended the Papal sovereignty over the states at this day subjected to the Tiara, and for the acquisition of which no rights have been trampled on, none have been victims to violence or usurpation. Even that donation of Pepin, popularly regarded as the origin of this sovereignty, is proved to have been preceded by temporal rights, sufficiently indicated, though not defined, in its history. It was, in fact, restitution that Pepin declared his determination to make for the benefit of the Roman Church; and when he sent ambassadors to Astolphus, hefore invading Lombardy, it was to require him to restore the possessions of the Church and the Roman republic: Ut pacifici sine ulla sanguinis effusione, propria S. Dei Ecclesiae et reipublicae Romana reddant jura. (Orsi « Dell'origine del Dominio dei Rom. Pont. ») The restitution of the Exarchate to Rome is referred to in the charter of Louis the Debonnaire, as the laudable act of Pepin and Charlemagne : • Exarchatum quem et genitor noster Carolus imperator, B. Petro et predecessoribus vestris jam dudum per donationis paginam restituerunt. » De Maistre, «Du Pape. ») Pope Adrian I. in writing to Charlemagne, speaks of this our Roman City »-«our Romans » - our territories. » Again he speaks of your States » « your subjects »- ⚫ our States our subjects.» ley History of the Papal States. ») Thus, for more than 200 years before the imperial crown was placed on the head of Charlemagne by Leo III, had the successors of St. Peter exer ibid. Pepinus rex (Orsi, (Mi |