THE VATICAN AND FASCISM

Evening Star, Issue 19274, 12 June 1926, Page 15

THE VATICAN AND FASCISM

DIVERSE VIEWS CF ROME'S DESTINY Fascist Ministers, even when most anxious to bo polite to the Papacy) arc nut always happy in their historical references, and the recent celebrations of the birthday ot Rome have given occa- | sion for some pertinent remarks in the Vatican organ (writes the correspondent of the ‘ Observer ’). Fascist glorification of pagan Borne and the (lehnition of the Papacy given by Senator L'orradiui in his speech on the Capitol as “ creatnra od credo di Roma” arc, resented, it being pointed out that . Peter rises triumphant over Caesar; and the church naturally insists upon tlie essential spirituality of the Eternal | City. _ . “The prisoner of the Vatican, who expresses Papal policy in the only free newspaper left in Italy to-day, watches ] the course ol event., with the quiet! patience of one not subject to the vary- I ing fortunes oi terrestrial (eivenmioio s, I ami accepts nil the good things for the church which may conic from t. morals j nr Fascists without, lowering Ins nag. j So many welcome oflenngs 1 , - , ’c 1 " > | made by the present Government, rendering relations k-nvun State unusually cordial, that many people feel, not unnaturally, that Signor Mussolini is destined to solve the vexed “ Roman question.” But every time that the historic moment seems to drawn ear a blast of cold air issues from (lie Vatican in one torni or another, and always carrying the same message : “The Roman question is very much alive.” ‘The latest, reminder of this irksome actuality is ro be lor,mi on page 2)) oi the ‘Annuano Pontificio ’ for 1920. which is the church's 'Who’s Mho.’ published at the Vatican polyglot printing press. Hitherto the reigning Pope has been described as “ successor of the Prince of the Apostles, High Pontiff of the Universal Church. Patriarch ol the West, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Province of Rome.” This year wo are reminded that the Pope is “Sovereign of the temporal dominions of the Hole Roman Church Gloriously Reigning.” the last two words being printed in largo type. Perhaps an answer to the seeming riddle ol Vatican diplomacy is that fundamentally (ho “ Homan question ” has been solved for many years, ever since anii-eloriealism died a natural death. Pope Pius X. realised the new atmosphere and the hotter relations existing between Church and State when, just before the war, he raised the veto from Catholics voting, thus enabling them to form political parties and not assist in parliamentary work merely as individuals. That the Roman question can be officially buried with magnificent funeral orations, as Fascism desires, is extremely unlikely. In spite of occasional auspicious signs, because a formal reconciliation with Italy would impair the Olympian attitude ami universal character of the Papacy, bringing infinite, and often unforeseen, complications. As Professor Sal vein ini once remarked: “ If tbe Papacy won Italy, it might lose the world.''