WILL THE POPE LEAVE ROME?

New Zealand Mail, Issue 879, 4 January 1889, Page 30

WILL THE POPE LEAVE ROME?

Father Schuck, of Milhouse, Indiana, one of the most prominent Catholic priests of the United States, recently returned from a visit to Rome, where he had several interviews with the Pope and other high dignitaries of the Church. Great changes, he says, have taken place within the past few years, and in a short time the Pope and his associates high in the Councils of the Church will turn their backs upon the city of Rome for ever. Father Schuck says that the Pope did not Bay just when he was going, but that all indications were to the effect that he was going as soon as the arrangements could be made. He was confident from what he saw and heard that the move would be made within the next two years, and that the situation was suchnowin Rome thatthe move might be made a great deal sooner. He would not be surprised to learn of the Pope leaving at any time. “ The Italian Government is becoming too oppressive,” Father Schuck said. ‘‘Priests are persecuted on all sides in Rome. They are often insulted upon the streets and unjustly treated in many ways. The palace where the Pope once resided is now occupied by the King, it having been confiscated along with other valuable property by the Government. The Pope is confined to the Vatican, and all the liberties and privileges ho now enjoys are being daily encroached upon and growing more limited.

Archbishop Corrigan, of Pittsburg, speaking on the same subject, says :—“ I don’t know anything about the story of the Pope leaving Rome, but do not think it likely ■ that there is any truth in the report.” j The Rev Joseph H. McMahon of the ! Cathedral said:—“The Pope is Bishop ' of Rome as well as head of the Church, and his natural place is at Rome. Ido not think he will ever elect to leave Rome. As to the indignity to which he is subjected, if he were to go out into the streets as Pope he might be arrested for trying to incite a riot. That monstrosity called the Italian Government, when it asks that he shall go out as an ordinary individual makes a great mistake. He is not an ordinary individual.”