CHURCH IN ITALY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 272, 15 October 1927, Page 9

CHURCH IN ITALY

RELATIONS WITH STATE. DISPUTE MAY BE SETTLED. PAPAL STATE MOOTED. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, Oct. 13. The Daily Mail’s Rome correspondent says that the question of the relations between the Church and the State have taken a new turn. The long-standing dispute between the Pope and the Italian Government is likely at last to bo settled.

The newspaper Osservatore Romano has now disclosed concessions which the Government might make to the Vatican in order to pacify the Holy See.

The Ossexwatore Romano says: “It it necessai-y that the Vatican should have temporal power in order to demonstrate its independence before the world. The Government should form a iTew Papal State, however tiny, over which the Holy See should have undisputed sway, which can be done without loss of prestige, since it would be restoring what was illegally taken away in 1870. The Vatican asserts that this is possible without the necessity of foreign intervention.” The statement has caused a deep impression. Apparently Signor Mussolini is about to reap the fruits of his long-sighted policy of pacification towards the Vatican.

The Morning Post’s Rome correspondent expresses the opinion that the restoration of _ some land is necessary, pointing out, in the words of the newspaper: “The Vatican will never invoke any international tribunal, awaiting the sense of rectitude and justice of the Italian people. The Pope is the sole judge of his own liberty, and at present he does not feel free. —A. and N.Z. cable.