The inhabitants of Rome and the Roman States, far from showing any
inclination to side with the revolutionary party, were wont never to let
pass an opportunity of manifesting their satisfaction with the government
of the Pope. His Holiness walked abroad without guards. And although he
sought the most retired places, for the enjoyment of that pedestrian
exercise which his health required, numbers of the people often contrived
to throw themselves in his way, in order to testify to him their reverence
and affection, as well as to receive his paternal benediction. When taking
his walk, one day, on Monte Pincio, many thousands came around him,
declaring loudly their unfeigned loyalty. The following day, still greater
crowds repaired to the same place. But the Holy Father, with a view to be
more retired, had gone in another direction. It ought not to be forgotten,
that when returning, in the autumn of 1859, from his villa at Castel
Gandolpho, the road was thronged on both sides to the distance of four
miles from Rome with citizens who had no other object in view than to give
a cordial and loyal welcome to their Bishop and Prince. This was an
ovation—a triumph which the greatest conqueror might well have envied. It
has already been recorded that, on occasion of the progress which the Holy
Father made through his States, he was everywhere received with the most
lively demonstrations of enthusiastic loyalty, reverence and affection. On
the 18th of January, 1860, the municipal body, or, as it is called, “the
Senate,” of Rome, presented to the Sovereign Pontiff, as well in their own
name as on behalf of all the people, an address expressive of their filial
duty and loyal sentiments. On the following day, January 19th, one hundred
and thirty-four of the nobility of Rome, who are, in all, one hundred and
sixty, approached the person of the Pontiff in order to present an equally
loyal and dutiful address. The sentiments of this address will be best
conveyed in its own plain and energetic language—language which does honor
to the patricians of modern Rome:
“We, the undersigned, deeply grieved by the publication of various libels
which, emanating from the revolutionary press, tend to make the world
believe that the people subject to the authority of your Holiness are
wishing to shake off the yoke which, as it is reported, has become
insufferable, feel necessitated to show fidelity and loyalty to your
Holiness, and to make known to the rest of Europe, which, at the present
moment, doubts the sincerity of our words, the fidelity of our persons
towards your Holiness, by a manifestation of attachment and fidelity
towards your person, proceeding from our duty as Catholics, and from our
lawful submission as your subjects.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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