The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"TEMPORAL POWEE OF THE POPES.ITSroyal master, like the schismatic Patriarch of Con*Btantinople, who, as Gibbon observed, was a domestic slave under the eye of his master, at whosenod he passed from the convent to the throne, andfrom the throne to the convent." And indeed theOriental Schismatic Bishops are as subservient nowas they were then to their temporal rulers. Or,what is far more probable, the Pope might becomea virtual prisoner in his own house, as the presentillustrious Pontiif is at this moment.The Popeis the Representative of Christ onearth. His office requires him to be in constantcommunication with Prelates in every country inthe world. Should the kingdom of Italy be embroiled in a war with any European Power, withGermany, for instance, it would be difficult, if notimpossible, for the Holy Father and the GermanBishops to confer with each other, and religionwould suffer from the interruption of intercoursebetween the Head and the members.The interests of Christianity demand that theVicar of the Prince of peace should possess one spotof territory which would be held inviolable, so that&11 nations and peoples could at all times, in warNPS well as in peace, freely correspond with him.While nothing can be more revolting to our feelingsthan that the spiritual government of the Churchshould be constantly hampered by the hostile aggressions of ambitious rulers, an eventuality always15*