THE POPE AND THE EMPEROR WILLIAM.

Waikato Times, 15 January 1874, Page 2

THE POPE AND THE EMPEROR WILLIAM.

JKrlin, 0.-tober It. The Emperor has received a leHor from the Pope of which the iblloumg is n literal translation :—: —

" Vatican, Aug. 7. " Your Majesty, — Tito incasurei which have been adopted by your Mnje-ry's Government for some time pnst allaiin more and move at the destruction of Catholicism. When I seriously ponder over tho cnuj.es which may hnve led to these very hard measures, I confess tlinl I am unnbl • io discover any reasons for such a course. Qn the other hand, I am informed that your Mnjeely does not countenance the proceedings of your ftorernment, and does not approve tlie harshness of the measures adopted against the Cuthohc religion If, then, it be true that Your Afajesl.y does not approve t.liereof — and the letters which your aunust Majesty has addressed to me formerl/ might sufficiently demonstrate that ypu cinnot approve thi}fc which i« now occurring — if, I say, Your Majesty does not approve your G-o\ernmcjjt continuing in tho path it lias chosen of further extending its rigorous meaiitrps against the religion of esus Christ, wlioreb.L,t|ie lntter_ js most injuriously affected, will Y'>ur Sfujestyt then, n^t bpco nc convinced that these mea?urps lia\r no other object than that ot undermining Your Maiesty> own Throw ? J speak with frankness, for my banner is truth ; 1 speak in order to fulfil on,o of raj duties, which consists in telling the truth to all, even to those who are not Catholics, for every cno who has been baptized belyns^s in some way or other, which to define more precisely would be here out of place, — belong*, I say, to tho Pope. "I cherish the conviction th it Your Mijeaty will receive my observations with your u-mul goodness, and will adopt the measures necessary in the present case. "Wlnl- olfenn,' to i'mr .VI wb G-aeiom llijesty the expression of mv devotion and e«teenj, 1 pray to Q-0.l .that He may enfold Your Mnji?st.y and myself in one and the same bond of mercy. "Pio."

Hia Majesty tha Emperor replied as follows : — " Berlin, Sept. 3. "lain pi ad that. Your Holiness has, as in former times, done me the honour to write to in.». I rrjoioe the more at this s'nce un opportunity is thereby afforded mr of con-pet-ing errors which, ai appears from the contents of the letter of Your Holiness of the 7th of August, must have occurred in the communication yen have received relative to Gjvpman affairs. If the reports which arc m,-ulo to Your Holiness rt'^ppctinsi German questions only stateJ the truth, it would not bo possible for Y<>u.r Holiness to entertain tlie sup,ioi s-tion lbp.t my Government eptcrs upon a path which I do not approve " According to the constitution of my States, such a case cannot happen., since the iwvs i\n \ G >vernmei»t measur, b in I Pruwa require my ponwnt as Sovereign. To roy deep sirrow, a portion of my Catholic subjects have oruanized for Iho past two yeava a political party whish endeavours to disturb, by intrigues hostile to fie State, the religious peace which lias existed in Prussia fo- centuries. Leading Catholic priests have, unfortunately, not only approved this movement, but joined n it, to fie e\tent of open revolt against tbi> cxistinir law?. It will not have esciped t lie obieirttion of Your Holiness that timilai 1 indications manifest (hemoelvfi at I lie present time tn several European and in s mo Transatlantic States. It is not my mission to mve«tigate the cmtfca by which the iler-ry and the faithful of one of tho Christian dinomin itions c>n be induced actively to assist the enemies of nil law, but it certainly is my mission to protect internal pi-sice »n<\ lo prebor\e the authority of the laws in tho St Ucs sNliose <;o\eriinicnt lias been intrusted to mo b> CJ.oil. I am copjejous that J owe liereaftpr an acpouut of the accomplishment of this "13 kingly duty. 1 shall maintain ureter n*id \nw jn my Stales against all attacks as lon>» .1* Cjq(j gives me tho power. lam in duty bound $0 do it ns a Christian Monarch, evrq wli^n, to my sorrow, I have to fu,l|il this Rojal duty against the serves of a Church which I suppose acknowledpea no le s tlmn the Evangelical Church Mint the eommn.nclm.en'i of obedience \p i>mi)ur authority u »i\ euianatioii of the revealed will of God. Many of the priests in Piussia, subjcot to Your Jloliness, disown, t*Q j^ regret, the Christian d,ootrino m this respept, and placp my Government under the n,eces-<tyy - supported by tho great miijonty of my lo\ al Catholic anii Emngelicql subjects — of extorting obedience t© la,v by worldly means. I willingly entertain, M\e hope that You.r Holiness, upon bring informed of tne true posit ip,n of nflhirs, will use your authority to put a^ end to iliengitntion parried on amid deplorable distortion of tho truth and qbuse of priestly authority. The rrjigion of phrist has, as J attes.t to Your Holinei* before Qod nqtli:ng to, dp with these intrigues any more than ha* truth to w lingo banner, invoked by Your Holiness, I unreservedly subspribp. " There is one mo-e cxprcs«"n |n the letter pf Your Holiness which I cannot pass over withou^ contradiction, al : tliough it is. not based upon tlio previous information, but upon the belief ol Your Hojhws— nam.ely, tbo pxprewon thnt. every one who has received bopt ism belongs to the Pope. The Evnn3elic.nl creed, which, n» must he ltnnun'tq Your Hqliiiee*, 1, lite my amestoi<» and the majority of my sub. jects profess, docs uot permit us to .irocept ?n pup relations I \uth, G,od, any o^her Mediator thau ov\r |esu« phri»t.

Tlio dilliTence of belief does not prerent me fiom living in. pence \jritli those who ilo uol share mine, an<l offering Your Holmes? jtho oxpresjion of my puraonalaifrotinn -»n<l esteem. | x «« William."