The Case of Cardinal Hohenlohe

The question of Cardinal ------ acting as German representative is now settled. The refusal, however, of the Holy See to accede to the wishes of Prussia has caused great sensation. It would seem that Prince Bismarck desired to make a show of conciliation towards the German Catholics. The Holy Father could not have acted otherwise, as his consent as the case stands would have been followed by the Cardinal's acting in a very delicate capacity on this point. The Cardinals being members of the Sacred College and united to the Pope by the strictest bond of union and obedience, cannot act for foreign powers as ambassadors, and this is more especially the case where the power in question is Protestant and is a party at variance with the Church. Leo XII prohibited a Cardinal from acting as a foreign minister, even at a time when all Europe was Catholic. It is, besides, the canon law that whenever a Prelate is raised to that dignity he instantly ceases to be the representative of any foreign State, or even a nation.

Last Sunday a devout triduum in reparation was offered [...] the Madonna [...]

No doubt the news of these things will [...] but it must be said [...] about Rome how many have been assailed with stones or insulted [...] since the events of September. Insults to priests are almost a daily occurrence. Whenever any such outrage occurs a full account is always given in the Catholic papers, with the names, places, and details, and yet the official and even the revolutionary papers have never denied them. It would be well if the Daily News would request its correspondent to verify the statements he makes on this subject.

The same correspondent has lately given a version of the Pope's speech at the last public reception, which is perfectly incorrect. He says that when the Holy Father spoke of the death of Signor Platino, who never practiced any religion, and could not, therefore, be buried with Catholic rites, he was interrupted by a voice that called out that a Cardinal had lately died quite suddenly. The writer of these lines was present at the reception, and can testify that there was no interruption at all, except when the Pope alluded to his want of confidence in the Italian Government, and this was greeted with loud cheers.