nd the
deputy was more anxious to conciliate the Emperor than to satisfy the
people of Rome. Italy and Rome were then in a political condition
analogous to that in which the Irish were placed for several centuries.

Abandoned to itself, Rome became a tempting prey to those numerous hordes
of Barbarians from the North that then devastated Italy. The city was
successively attacked by the Goths under Alaric, and by the Vandals under
Genseric, and was threatened by the Huns under Attila. Unable to obtain
assistance from the Emperor in the East, or the Governor at Ravenna, the
citizens of Rome looked up to the Popes as their only Governors and
protectors, and their only salvation in the dangers which threatened them.
The confidence which they reposed in the Pontiffs was not misplaced. The
Popes were not only devoted spiritual Fathers, but firm and valiant civil
Governors. When Attila, who was surnamed "the Scourge of God," approached
the city with an army of 500,000 men, Pope Leo the Great went out to meet
him unattended by troops. His mild eloquence disarmed the indomitable
chieftain and induced him to retrace his steps. Thus he saved the city
from pillage and the people from destruction. The same Pope Leo also
confronted Genseric, the leader of the Vandals; and although he could not
this time protect Rome from the plunder of the soldiers he saved the lives
of the citizens from slaughter. Such acts as these were naturally
calculated to bind the Roman people more strongly to the Popes and to
alienate them from their nominal rulers.

In the early part of the eighth century Leo Isauricus, one of the
successors of Constantine on the imperial throne, not content with his
civil authority, endeavored, like Henry VIII., to usurp spiritual
jurisdiction, and, like the same English monarch, sought to rob the people
of their time-honored sacred traditions. A civil ruler dabbling in
religion is as reprehensible as a clergyman dabbling in politics. Both
render themselves odious as well as ridiculous. The Emperor commanded all
paintings of our Savior and His saints to be removed from the churches on
the assumption that such an exhibition was an act of idolatry. Pope
Gregory II. wrote to the Emperor an energetic remonstrance, reminding him
that "dogmas of faith are to be interpreted by the Pontiffs of the Church
and not by emperors," and begging him to spare the sacred paintings. But
the Pope's remonstrance and entreaties were in vain. Thi