"For," said he, "the wolf--I do not mean Protestantism--but
the wolf of anarchy and infidelity is abroad, I fear, in the regions of
the West." He referred to the organization called "the International," and
expressed his astonishment that "any princes should be still so blind as
to take pleasure in making war on the Church, at a period when the
foundations of civil society were threatened on every side."

The chief cause of the Holy Father's grief and poignant sorrow, under his
calamities, was the loss of souls. "Ah!" said he, in a conversation with
Mgr. Langenieux, Archbishop of Rheims, "I could bear my misfortunes
courageously, and God would give me strength to withstand the evils which
afflict the Church. But there is one thing I cannot forgive those who
persecute us. They eradicate the faith of my people--they kill the souls of
the children of unfortunate Italy." The Pontiff, as he uttered these
words, moved his hand towards his breast, and as his fingers ruffled his
white robe, he exclaimed, in a tone that was truly heartrending: "They
tear away my heart!"

"It was sublime," adds the archbishop, "the great soul of the Pope subdued
us, and, at the same time, inspired us with light and fortitude."

RELATIONS OF PIUS IX. WITH FOREIGN STATES--SWITZERLAND--GERMANY.

The party in Europe who desired the suppression of the Pope's temporal
rule professed to be actuated by zeal for promoting a more free and useful
exercise of his spiritual authority. It soon became manifest that this was
the merest sham. Switzerland, guided by that narrow kind of Protestantism
which has so often asserted its power, pretended to see only in the Pope
the Chief of the small Roman State; when deprived of that State, he was no
longer a prince or dignitary, with whom diplomatic relations could be
held. His legate at Berne, accordingly, was informed that he must take his
departure from the territory of the Swiss Confederation. It is well
understood that this ungracious measure was secretly advised and promoted
by Germany. That Power speedily followed the example, although not at
first in a very direct or open way. The German ministry appointed to the
Embassy of the Vatican Cardinal Hohenlohe, the only one of the cardinals
who proved unfaithful to Pius IX. in the hour of his great distress. The
Pope remonstrated against the appointment. The inflexible Prussian
minister, Bismarck, replied that he would send no other, suspended and
finally abolished