THE POPE ON THE OUTRAGE. (From the Universe,')

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 442, 30 September 1881, Page 21

THE POPE ON THE OUTRAGE. (From the Universe,')

The following is a literal translation of the allocution delivered on Thursday August 11, by his Holiness Pope Leo XIII. on the events of the night of the 12th— 13th of July : We have hastened, venerable brethren, to call your august College before Us. in order that the provision We have to make for several churches may affoid Us the opportune occasion for opening Our mind and communicating to you the grief We have recently suffered because of the execrable and disastrous events which happened in Rome during the removal of the remains of Our predecessor, Pius IX., of happy memory. We enjoined upon Our beloved Son, the Cardinal Secretary of State, that he should without delay report the unexpected and unworthy case to the Sovereigns of Europe ; nevertheless, the insult offered to Our great predecessor and the outraged dignity of the Pontificate absolutely obliges Us to raise Our voice to-day, in order that the sentiments of Our heart may receive public confirmation from Ourself, and that the Catholic nations may understand that We have done all in Our power to guard the memory of a most holy personage and to defend the majesty of the Supreme Pontificate. As you know, venerable brethren, Pius IX. ordered that his body should be buried in the Basilica of San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura. Wherefore, having to carry his last will into effect, it was, in intelligence with those whose duty it is to guarantee the public security, established that the removal from the Vatican Basilica should be made in the silence of the night and during the hours which are usually the most quiet. Similarly, it was decided that the translation should be made in the manner permitted by the present condition of Rome, of in the splendid form proper to the Pontifical majesty and the traditional usages of the Church. But the news was suddenly spread throughout the city that the Roman people, mindful of the ''virtues and the benefits bestowed by the grea 1 ; Pontiff, had

spontaneously manifested the desire of rendering to their common father the last tribute of respect and filial affection. That manifestation of gratitude and affection was intended to be thoroughly worthy of the gravity and the religious sentiments of the Roman people, who had no other intention than that of associating themselves decorously with the cortige and assisting numerously and reverently at its passing. On tne day and at the hour fixed the cortege moved from the Vatican Temple, while a great multitude of persons of all classes crowded from all sides. Many were around the funeral car ; very many behind it, and all were of tranquil and serious bearing. Intent on reciting the fitting prayers, they neither uttered a cry nor committed an act which could provoke any one or give cause in any way for disturbances. Bur, behold I from the very beginning of the ' religious accompaniment a handful of noted miscreants disturbed the | sad ceremony with riotous erie?. Gradually increasing in number ; and boldness, they redoubled the clamour and tumult ; they insulted ! the most holy things ; saluted with hisses and contumely persons of i the highest respectability, and, with a threatening and contemptuous aspect, they surrounded the funeral cortege, dealing blows and throwing stones at them. Moreover, what even barbarians v ould not have dared they dared, not respecting even the remains of the Holy Pontiff ; for, not only did they imprecate the name of Pius IX., but they threw stones at the funeral car which carried the corpse, and more than once was the cry raised to throw away the ashes unburied. Throughout all the long way, and for the space of two hours, the inaecent spectacle lasted, and if they did not commit greater excesses, the merit is due to the long-suffering of those who, although provoked by every violence and wantonness, preferred to resign themselves to the insults rather than permit their pious office to be saddened by more mournful scenes. From every side letters of execration of such a disgrace and enormous misdeed reach us daily. But, above all, the deepest grief and pain caused by the atrocious crime rests upon Our soul and inasmuch as Our duty constitutes Us the vindicator of all that is attempted to the detriment of the majesty of the Roman Pontificate and of the venerated memory of Our predecessors, We solemnly protest before you, venerable brethren, against those deplorable excesses, and We loudly denounce the insults, the entire blame for which falls upon those who did not defend either the rights fp, of religion nor the liberty of the citizens from the fury of the impious. And from this also the Catholic world may judge what security there is left for Us in Rome. It was already well and openly known that We are reduced to a most difficult, and for many reasons intolerable, condition, but the recent facts of which We have spoken have made thib more clearly manifest, and together they have demonstrated that if the present state of things is bitter to Us still more bitter is the fear of the tuture. If the removal of the ashes of Pius IX. gave cause for such unworthy disturbances and such serious tumults, who could give warranty that the audacity of the wicked would not break out into the same excesses when they saw Us pass along the streets of Rome in a manner becoming Our dignity 1 And especially if they believed they had just motive, because We Ourselves, through duty, went to condemn unjust laws decreed here in Rome, or to reprove the wickedness of any other public act. Hence it is more than ever evident that in the present circumstances We cannot remain in Rome otherwise than as a prisoner in the Vatican. Moreover, whoever pays attention to certain indications which here and there manifest themselves, and considers, at the same time, that the sects have openly conspired for the extermination of the name of Catholic, has reason to affirm that more pernicious intentions are being matured to the injury of the religion of Christ, of the Supreme Pont ff, and of the hereditary faith of the Roman people. We certainly, as is Our duty, follow with attentive watch the onward movement of this most savage struggle, and at the same time, prepare the most opportune means of defence. Reposing all Our hopes in God, We are resolved to combat m to the very last for the safety of the Church, for the independence of *■ the Supreme Pontiff, for the rights and the majesty of the Apostolic See and in such a combat We are resolved to spare no labour and to fear no difficulty. Nor shall We combat alone, inasmuch as in your virtue and constancy, my venerable brethren, We, in every respect,

place the greatest trust. No small comfort and support to Us, also is the good will and the piety of the Romans, who, tempted in a thousand ways and by every art, remain with singular firmness obsequious to the Church and faithful to the Pontiff. Nor do they neglect any occasion for showing how deeply those virtues are inscribed in their hearts