our unworthiness, we hold on
earth the place of Him who is the Author of peace--the Friend of
charity; and that, faithful to the Divine obligations of our
Apostolate, we embrace all countries, all peoples, all nations, in
a like sentiment of paternal love. Nor can we refrain from
repelling, in the face of all nations, the perfidious assertions
of those who desire that the Roman Pontiff should be the chief of
the government of a new republic, consisting of all the peoples of
Italy.

"Moreover, we earnestly exhort, on this occasion, these same
Italian peoples to keep particularly on their guard against these
treacherous counsels. We conjure them to remain devotedly attached
to their princes, whose affection they have experienced. To act
otherwise would be not only to fail in their duty, but also to
expose Italy to discord and factions. As regards ourselves, we
declare once more that all the thoughts and all the efforts of the
Roman Pontiff tend only to increase every day the kingdom of Jesus
Christ, which is the Church, and not to extend the limits of the
temporal sovereignty, with which Divine Providence has endowed the
Holy See, for the dignity and the free exercise of the sublime
Apostolate."

No better argument could have been offered in reply to those parties who
clamored so unreasonably for war. Nor could the Pontiff have vindicated
more eloquently the pacific character of that religion of which he is the
Chief and Representative on earth. At the same time, he offered wise and
authoritative counsel to the Italian nationalities. It was too late. The
voice of friendly warning remained unheard amidst the din of strife and
revolution. Need it be added--the cause of liberty perished for a time,
victimized by its own excess.

The Socialist party had succeeded in gaining the populace of Rome, and
they now constituted a power which prevailed in the city, whatever it
might have been in the field. Skilfully managed by its leaders, it gave
law to the Pontifical government. The Pope was not, however, powerless. A
merely secular sovereign would have been crushed. He would have had no
other resource than to abdicate. The Holy Father was not reduced to this
extremity. He was still able to repel the unacceptable measures which the
Socialists endeavoured to thrust upon him. They and their myrmidons
vociferated for war with Austria. The Pope could st