_Rome, Jan. 26._—The grand topic of all conversations is Bishop
Strossmayer’s speech of yesterday; and it is possible to give a pretty
correct description of its contents, which seem to have made a profound
impression on his 747 hearers. The Bishop declared it to be unseemly to
begin with the disciplinary decrees about Bishops and their obligations,
because this might raise the suspicion in their dioceses that their recent
conduct had given occasion to it. When their duties were spoken of, their
rights should also be put forward. But, in fact, the reform must be
carried through from the highest ranks of the hierarchy to the lowest, so
that the Bishops should be introduced in their proper order. He spoke of
the necessity of making the Papacy common property, _i.e._, making
non-Italians eligible; for it is now a purely Italian institution, to the
immense prejudice of its power and influence. He pointedly insisted on a
similar universalizing of the Roman Congregations, so that the important
affairs of the Catholic Church should not be arranged and settled in a
narrow and jealous spirit, as had unfortunately been the case hitherto.
And all matters not necessarily pertaining to the whole Church must be
withdrawn from the competence of the Congregations, so that it might no
longer be the case, as before, “ut qui superfluis et minimis intendit,
necessariis desit.”
Strossmayer insisted on a reform of the College of Cardinals, in the sense
of its containing a representation of all Catholic countries in proportion
to their extent and importance. The impression produced is said to have
been most thrilling, when he exclaimed that it was to be wished the
supreme authority in the Church had its throne, where the Lord had fixed
His own, in the hearts and consciences of the people, and this would never
be the case while the Papacy remained an Italian institution. And with
regard to the more frequent holding of Councils, he is said to have
reminded the Fathers of the _Decretum Perpetuum_ of Constance, that a
Council should be assembled every ten years. But the presiding Legates
seemed to be greatly disturbed at the mention of Constance. The Bishop
proceeded to point out that ordinary prudence urgently dictated to the
Church the more frequent holding of Councils. The increased facilities of
intercourse supplied means to the Church to gather more frequently in
Council round its head, and thus show an example to the more advanced
nations, who transact their affairs in common assemblies, of the
open-heartedness and freedom, the patience and perseverance, the charity
and moderation, with which great questions should be treated. Once, when
Synods were more frequent in the Church, the nations had learnt from her
how to bring their affairs to a settlement, but now the Church must offer
herself teacher in the great art of self-government.
Strossmayer urged that an influence over episcopal appointments should be
given to Provincial Synods, in order to remedy the dangers connected with
the present system of nominations, which have become incalculable. He
lashed with incisive words and brilliant arguments those who preach a
crusade against modern society, and openly expressed his conviction that
henceforth the Church must seek the external guarantees of her freedom
solely in the public liberties of the nations, and the internal in
intrusting the episcopal Sees to men filled with the spirit of Chrysostom,
Ambrose, and Anselm. It cut to the quick when he spoke of the
centralization which is stifling the life of the Church, and of the
Church’s unity, which only then reflects the harmony of heaven and
educates men’s spirits, when her various elements retain inviolate their
proper rights and specific institutions. But as the Church now is, and in
the organization designed to be imposed on her, her unity is rather a
monotony that kills the spirit, excites manifold disgust, and repels
instead of attracting. On this point the Bishop is said to have made very
remarkable statements from his own experience, proving that, as long as
the present system of narrow centralization endures, union with the
Eastern Church is inconceivable, and, on the contrary, new perils and
defections will be witnessed. He called the canon law a Babylonish
confusion, made up of impractical and in most cases corrupted or spurious
canons. The Church and the whole world expect the Council to make an end
of this state of things by a codification adapted to the age, but which
must be prepared by learned and practical men from every part of the
Catholic world, and not by Roman divines and canonists. In repudiating the
proposal of a previous speaker, that the Pope should take a general
oversight of the Catholic press, he seized the opportunity of pronouncing
a glowing panegyric on a man who had been shamefully maligned by that
press, but to whom is chiefly owed any real freedom that exists in this
Council. Every eye was turned on Dupanloup.
Many single sayings are quoted from this magnificent speech. A French
Prelate had desired that Bishops should not sit in the confessional;
Strossmayer replied that he must have forgotten he was the countryman of
St. Francis of Sales. Another speaker had maintained that the reformation
of the Cardinals should be intrusted to their Father, the Pope;
Strossmayer replied that they had also a Mother, the Church, to whom it
always belongs to give them good advice and instruction.
The speech lasted an hour and a half, and the impression produced was
overwhelming. Bishops affirm that no such eloquence in the Latin tongue
has been heard for centuries. Strossmayer does not indeed always speak
classical Latin, but he speaks it with astonishing readiness and elegance.
Cardinal di Pietro, who answered him yesterday, spoke of the “rara
venustas” of his speech. It is related in proof of his noble manner, and
the spirit in which he spoke and was listened to, that the opponent he
most sharply attacked immediately asked him to dinner. He is said to have
received 400 visits in consequence of his speech. The President paid him a
singular compliment in putting out a special admonition the day after his
speech against any manifestation of applause.
There was the greatest excitement beforehand. His eloquence was already
known from his former speech, which was rendered more significant from the
Legates interrupting him. Had he been again interrupted this time, every
one felt that the freedom of the Council would be in the greatest danger.
Strossmayer’s tact and moderation prevented it, although it was observed
that Cardinal Bilio wished on one occasion to make the Presidents
interfere. When Strossmayer mounted the tribune, somebody was heard to
say, “That is the Bishop against whom the bell will be used.”