Roman Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 12, 19 December 1890, Page 3

Roman Notes.

The Holy Father, in an audience recently granted by him to Monrignor Abolionan, Chaldean Patriarch of Babylon, gratefully acknowledsied the impartial and just treatment given by the Sultan to his Majesty's Catholic subjects.

The Pope, in a letter addressed to tbe Abbe Brugidon, the President of the Society of the Adorazione Riparatnce, whose special undertaking is the erection by way of reparation of churches in the newly-built quarters of Borne, accepts with pleasure the proposal that the first church so built should be dedicated in honour of St Joachim, his Holiness' patron saint. It is hoped that this church as well as the Irish national church of St. Patrick will be completed in time to commemorate the Pope's episcopal jubilee.

The uneasiness of the Italian Government has again been, made manifest, this time in a prohibition issued by the Minister of War to military bands against the performance by them of " Garibaldi's Hymn" and the "Marseillaise." The Government, realising tbe uncertainty of its position, dreads anything that can excite the revolutionary spirit.

An amusing instance of the biter bit has recently occurred in certain reports published to the effect that English Catholics were •gita'ing for the election of a national Pope, to rule the English Chnrcb. Corsidering the repeated attempt to convince the "Vatican of Iriih disaffection, and the quarter whence it proceeded, the report in question cannot be looked upon as wholly undeserved.

The Figart has published an interview between Signor Crispi and one of its representatives, which has caused some sensation at Eome. 'I he Premier is represented as assuming the tone of an autocrat and laying down the law in a very independent and imperative manner. Nor did Signor Crispi confine his authoritative utterances to Italian affairs. He spoke, for example, with much assumption also concerning Germany, which, he said, if the occasion arose, he would prevent from going to war with France. He hkewiee guaranteed the good will and peaceable disposition of the German Emperor. The Premier, in short, threw off the veil and appeared, as he really is, the dictator of Italy. In assuming the character of arbiter of Europe, nevertheless, he possibly went too far. No potentate can successfully exceed the resources of his country.

The latest false report prevalent with regard to Ireland was to tbe effect that tbe four Irish archbishops with the senior suffragan of eech province had been summoned to Rome. There was not, of course, a word of truth in the matter. Bow the report originated it is impossible to say, but its source may be gathered from the fact that it first appeared in the columns of tbe London Tablet. From this fact its design, as well as its source, may be easily conjectured.

A serious accident has occurred to the cathedral of Siena, arising from the carelessness of some plumbers in leaving a vessel of burning coals on the roof. The consequence has been the destruction of the zinc covering of the dome and balcony. Fortunately none of the marvels of art which the cathedral contains have beeD mjured, owing chiefly to the personal exertions of Mgr. Zioi, the Archbishop.

The state of misery which has of late years prevailed in the country is still increasing. Emigration to America seems the only hope of the unfortunate people. No wonder the phantom of revolution keeps well within the view of the Government, for it can bardly seem possible that the masses can much longer bear their Buffering in patience.

In the person of Cardinal Hergenrother, whose death occurred early in October, the Church has lo6t one of her most learned members. As an ecclesiastical historian, the Cardinal has left works of great erudition and inestimable value. His chief service to religion, however, was probably that rendered by him in confuting the unhappy Dr. Db'llinger, exposing the fallacy of bis arguments, and checking the growth of tbe schism of which he was the author. A fact especially remarkable in this connection is that the Cardinal bad hinaielf been a favourite pupil of Doilinger'e at tbe University of Munich. He was a native of Wiirtzburg, where he was born in September, 1824.

The Holy Father has addressed an encyclical letter to the bishops, clergy, and people of Italy. His Holiness takes for lis theme the loss of faith to be feared for the country, and which it is the determination of the secret societies to bring about. The Pope dwells especially on the particular means adtpted by these societies to secure their nefaiious ends— in the secularisation of the i-cnools and colleges. " Thie," be pays, "is putting the axe to 'he root ; nor can tbere be imagined a means more universal and more effective to withdraw society, the family and individuals, from the influence of the Church and of the f nth, "—The encyclical is throughout of re■aarkable force and vigour.