CARDINAL PECCI'S "LIBERALITY"

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 262, 10 May 1878, Page 13

CARDINAL PECCI'S "LIBERALITY"

. (F,r,oni the CatiwUlo Examiner?) " The new Pope is a Pontiff of moderate views in religious matters, though of distinguished piety, combined with great energy of character and capacity for ruling,- qualities which he has shown both in the administration of his Sec of Perugia and in the various offices which he has held under the Pontificates of Popes Gregory XVI. and Pius IX." These are the precise words of an important part of the Reuter's telegram that, spread the news through Europe of the election of the new Pope, pur readers will be curious to know what interpretation they are to give to those first words " a Pontiff of moderate views in religious matters." We will let them judge for themselves from the words of an Address laid by Cardinal Joachim Pccci himself,, on. the 28th January, 1860, at the feet of Pope Pius IX. : " Holy Father, the Cardinal Bishop of Perugia and the full Chapter of his Cathedral, deeply moved at the impious and disloyal attacks to which the Apostolic See is in these days exposed, lay at the feet of Your Holiness this humble and affectionate tribute of their filial devotion and submission. They keenly feel the long and severe tribulations that trouble the paternal heart of Your Holiness ; they lament the blindness and waywardness of those ungrateful and degenerate sons who have joined in with the enemies of the Church in attacking its Supreme Head ; they indignantly reprobate the cra-f ty schemes brought to work for the destruction of the Civil power, and the wretched concealed efforts to strip the lloman Pontiff of his dignity and independence, and to sow in the very centre of Catholic unity revolt and schism. And at this moment, when all Christendom is in commotion, they protest against such dark designs, they pray and beseech the Prince of Pastors, of whom You, Holy Father, are the livmg oracle and the august Vicar, not to permit such wicked and sacrilegious machinations to be accomplished, but to renew in your sacred person the often admired triumph, which makes it clear, to the eyes even of unbelievers, that the Chair of Peter is" that corner stone, against which all human might breaks to pieces, and he who tries to destroy it, remains discomfited beneath it. May the submissive homage, which the undersigned lay before Your Pontifical throne, in the name of the entire church of Perugia, in some degree alleviate the - pains of your afflicted heait, and with the aid of the Apostolic benediction, which they respectfully ask in exchange, may they become ever more constant in their dutifulness and in the profession and defence of Catholic Unity.