FRANCE AND THE POPE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3583, 5 January 1883, Page 4

FRANCE AND THE POPE.

The Pope received the other day a party of French pilgrims returning from Palestine. In replying to an address which they presented to him he said that the Church was the object of the incessant contempt, persecution, and hatred of tho impious. To him, to whom upon earth Avas confided the aw j'ul charge of being supremo head of the Church, there could not be reserved other than at all times a large share in these sorrows ; but, nevertheless, they seemed to have siu-passed the ordinary measure, since impiety has violently established its seat, iv Rome. The sovereignty still recognised as belonging to the Pope recalled the purple robe and sceptre of our Lord in the Preforium. The calumnies and insults to whi<h he is continually subjected avctc a souvenir of the humiliation inflicted on the Son of G<>d; and the Supreme Pontiff, deprived of his liberty, is at the mercy of the Powers hostile to him, as his DiA-ine Master once was. The Pope then Avent on to speak of France :—" As avc have to-day the consolation of addressing you, we repeat the words the Saviour used to the pious avoiucii avlio folloAved him to Calvary—' Daughters of Jerusalem, wee]) for yourselves and for your children.' One shudders, in fact, at the sight of the efforts impious sects are at present making to corrupt France aud strip her of her glorious character as a. Catholic nation. One is terrified at the sight of the Avar which has there been declared against religion and even against God. At this moment of unquestionable grai ity, and in the presence of such dangers, an imperative duty is incumbent on you, beloved sons— that of Avatchiug OA'or the salvation of your country, and of working with redoubled zeal and activity for the defence of the religious interests thus jeopardised. But for this defence to be efficacious there must, above all, be union and brotherly concord among all good Catholics. The faithful children of the Church must be able to silence the discords of human opinions which often diA ide them. They must learn to resist. A\ith firmuess and unison, the evil which is invading all society. They must never forget that divisions bet\veen brothers weaken the most legitimate resistance and strengthen the enemies of truth. And as an essentially religious and moral combat is here in question, it is absolutely necessary that it should be fought under the leadership and direction of the Bishops established by the Holy Spirit, the pastors of the faithful, who, united Avith us, are your rightful guides. AYe therefore exhort yon, beloved sons, always to be obedient, to them, to second tlieni in all they undertake for reb'gion and for the salvation of your souls. This concord and u-'lon, drawing our ranks closer, will give you victory, and Avith God's aid Avill saA-c France, and we shall see with joy those great works revive which made your nation illustrious for centuries. AYe desire that these Avords be heard by all the Catholics oi France, and received with that docile spirit and filial submission with which you yourselves are imbued."'