On Papal Conclaves/Appendix/Appendix B
APPENDIX B.
The case of Cardinal Andrea presents so many important bearings, even though his return to Rome within the term of citation should, in all probability, quash further prosecution, that it will not be inopportune to state briefly the chief pleas on which the Pope relies in his comminatory Brief of degradation. The canonical authorities invoked in this document as affording a legal basis for the decisions promulgated are the Bulls Ad universæ Christianæ Reipublicæ of Benedict XIV. and Cum Juxta of Innocent X. As regards the first of these Statutes, it must be observed that its scope is strictly confined to simply recalling to mind the residential obligations imposed on Bishops by the Council of Trent, and that the only clause which touches on Cardinals does so only in so far as they are Bishops. The following is the text of this clause:—'Ceterum intendimus sub præsentium Literarum Nostrarum ordinatione et dispositione etiam ipsos Venerabiles Fratres Kostros Sanctæ Romanæ Ecclesiæ Cardinales, qui Patriarchalibus Primatialibus Archiepiscopalibus et Episcopalibus Ecclesiis prædictis ex concessione et dispensatione Apostolica nunc præsunt, et in futurum præeerunt comprehendi, ac comprehensos esse et fore.' It is manifest that as far as the provisions of this Bull come in question, they can touch Cardinal Andrea only in his capacity of Bishop. It is therefore his suspension from the See of Sabina which alone can be sought to be justified on the authority of this Bull. The sentence of absolute deprivation of all the attributes of the Cardinalitian dignity which is involved in the Brief of the 29th September, consequently should find its justification in the provisions of the other Statute invoked, the Bull Cum Juxta. Undeniably this decree was levelled at Cardinals, and notoriously at the Cardinals Barberini in particular, who, greatly to the anger of Innocent X., left his dominions and sought the hostile protection of Mazarin. This personal motive in its inspiration caused the Pope expressly to make the Bull retrospective in its action, so as to strike the case of these fugitive Barberinis. But clear as daylight though it be that this Statute lays Cardinals under penalties who leave the Pope's dominions without his license, there is nothing in it to warrant the extreme sentence which Pius IX. has deemed himself empowered to formulate. Roman canonists have indeed attempted learnedly to prove that Cardinal Andrea has never come within the action of the Bull Cum Juxta, his departure having been rendered necessary for the preservation of life, which, in canon law, is a paramount obligation no Pope has the power to traverse. This technical objection we are content to ignore. We are quite ready to admit the ground for proceedings against Cardinal Andrea that is afforded by this Bull Cum Juxta, and yet we are unable to extract from its wording an adequate authority for the peculiar sentence in question—a sentence without precedent since that pronounced against the Colonnas by Boniface VIII., and subsequently so clearly condemned and reversed. The penalties reserved by Innocent X. for Cardinals who desert the Papal States and disobey the Pope's summons to return, comprise loss of temporalities and a general deprivation of the Cardinalitian dignity; but in the whole of this very detailed Statute of pains and penalties there is not a word implying the forfeiture of franchise. By the provisions of this Bull the Pope is empowered to do merely that which there never could he a question but a Pope has perfect authority to do to contumacious Cardinals, namely, punish them with the kind of degradation ultimately inflicted on Cardinal Coscia, that involved loss of outward signs of rank, and even partial disability of franchise, but not downright forfeiture—this last sentence originally pronounced against this Cardinal being acknowledged by Pope Clement XII. to labour under integral vice. The importance of this point makes it well to give the very words of that portion of the Bull Cum Juxta which comes in question, and then to append the text of the Brief which Pius IX. addressed to Cardinal Andrea:—
The text of the Brief runs thus:—
PIUS PP. IX.—Quamquam Illius Nos gerentes in terris vices, qui patiens et misericors est, benignitatem clementiamque libenter sequamur, tamen quia judicium et justitiam facere Apostolici etiam muneris esse intelligimus, ad evellenda, quæ in perniciem fidelium suboriantur, scandala, eorumque auctores compescendos supremæ nostræ auctoritatis vim et robur exerimus. Id nos spectantes jam inde ab anno proxime superiori 1866, per similes in forma Brevis Litteras, die 12 mensis Junii datas, auditis antea Venerabilibus Fratribus Nostris S. R. E. Cardinalibus, de eorumdem consilio omne jurisdictionis exercitium in spiritualibus ac temporalibus tam in Ecclesiam Sabinensem, quam in Abbatiam Sublaquensem ad nostrum et S. Sedis beneplacitum Hieronymo D'Andrea Cardinali suspendimus atque interdiximus, quippe qui mense Junio anno 1864, nobis justisbissimas ob causas abnuentibns, aliasque ut oras ad confirmandam valetudinem peteret suadentiLus, Urbem repente deserens Neapolim profugisset, ibique adhuc immorari pergeret contra Sacrorum Conciliorum de Episcoporum residentia sanctiones, contraque Romanornm Pontificum Prædecessorum Nostrorum decreta de eadem re edita, et potissimum Benedicti XIV. Constitutionem, quæ incipit "Ad universæ Christianæ Republicæ," ubi scilicet decernitur non licere Episcopis a Diæcesi sua recedere legitima qualibet ex causa etiam tuendæ recreandæque valetudinis, nisi prius a Romano Pontifice pro tempore existente veniam fuerint expresse consecuti. Neque minus severe de Cardinalium residentia statuerunt Prædecessores item Nostri Romani Pontifices, atque in primis Innocentius X. in sua Constitutione "Cum Juxta," die 19 Februarii anno 1646 edita. Is enimvero, quam S. Eeclesiæ Romanæ Cardinales in partem Apostolicæ sollicitudinis vocati adstare continenter Romano Pontifici, eique in regimine ulliversæ Ecclesiæ studium suum operamque præstare debeant, graves eisdem, multiplicesque indixit pœnas, ipso facto, et absque judicis declaratione incurrendas, si extra civilem Ecclesiæ Statum demigrare ausi fuerint quacumque ex causa etiam publica et favorabili, et in corpore juris clausa, nisi eadem causa a Romano Pontifice pro tempore existente expresse antea fuerit et probata et admissa.
Jam vero hujusmodi inobedientire, atque verentiæ exemplo adversus nos et Apostolicam Sedem per memoratum Cardinalem edito, proculcatisque tam audacter ab eo sacrornm canonum sanctionibus, et Pontificiis Constitutionibus, diu multumque, sed tamen frustra expectavimus dum ille resipiscens errati veniam postularet; frustra illum per Cardinalem publicis negotiis præpositum, ac deinde per Cardinalem Sacri Collegii Decanum admonendum curavimus de gravissimis pænis, quibus juxta sacros canones, et pontificias constitutiones obnoxius evasisset. Ipse etenim adhibitas admonitiones nihili faciens, actionem illam snam tamquam culpa vacuam tueri pertinaciter institit, evulgatisque in earn rem litteris, amplissimorum nonnulIorum Cardinalium, et spectatissimorum Antistitum nomen famamque proscindere non dubitavit iniquissimis conviciis et contumeliis, omni posthabito et humanitatis et christianæ etiam charitatis officio. Tanta hæc agendi scribendique Iicentia viro potissimum indigna, qui et Cardillalitia et Episcopali dignitate honestaretur, maximum nobis dolorem inussit; sed tamen nequid intentaturn relinqueremus ad ejus animum permovendum, ac ne ullæ nostræ benignitatis et clementiæ partes in hujusmodi re desiderarentur, Iitteras ei mittendas duximns manu nostra conscriptas, quibus hortati eumdem sumus, ut consideraret etiam atque etiam quam grave fidelibus scandalum intulisset, et quantam idcirco culpam sustineret, æternæque suæ saluti consulens in rectam viam redire ne moraretur; ac postremo denunciavimus, nisi paterna nostra monita Iibens voIensque audiret, et sequcretur, ipso Apostolici muneris officio nos fore cogendos, ut judicis tandem partes suseiperemus. At enim nihil de animi sui pertinacia atque elatione remittens, tam procaciter Nobis atque injuriose respondit, ut id expectare vix potuissemus ab homine, cui nulla sit erga Apostolicam Sedem fides et observantia.
'Tam gravibus, tamque reprobandis admissis æqua lance perpensis, et spectata prædicti Decessoris Nostri Innocentii X. Constitutione, nemo non videt, quanto gravior per Nos fuisset animadversionis adhibenda severitas. Siquidem in eadem Constitutione memoratus Predecessor Noster statuit decernitqne ut omnes et singuli S. Rom. Ece. Cardinales, qui non ohtenta a Romano Pontifice pro tempore existente licentia extra temporalem Ecclesiæ ditionem se transferant, statim eo ipso absque aliqua judicis vel alterius præcedente declaratione omnibus et quibuscumque privilegiis, immunitatibus, exemptionibuns et indultis a Sede Apostolica concessis privati sint et existant; atque insuper poenam interdicti ingressus Ecclesiæ eo ipso pariter incurrant; nee non et aliis per Romanos Pontifices quovis modo arbitrandis pœnis subjaceant, et etiam ad sequestrum omnium et singulorum fructuum, redituum, proventuum, tam quorumcumque officiorum et munerum etiam majorum et consistorialiter concessorum, specialique expressione dignorum, quam monasteriorum et aliorum quorumlibet beneficiorum sæcularium et cujuscumque ordinis regularium etiam jurisdictionem sive spiritnalem sive temporalem habentium, nec non pensionum super quibusvis fructibus ecclesiasticis, contra eosdem Cardinales etiam sine aliqua citatione vel declaratione deveniri possit ac debeat. Et si Cardinales prædicti per sex menses, qui pro tribus canonicis monitionibus peremptoriisque dilationibus et termiuis assignantur a die eorum recessus computandi ad Romanam Curiam personaliter, et cum effectu non redierint, ultra pœnas prædictas, et cumulative cum illis, atque eo ipso pœnam incurrant privationis omnium et singulorum fructuum, redituum, proventuum, tam quorumcumque officiorum, munerum etiam majorum et consistorialiter concessorum, specialique nota dignorum, quam monasteriorum et aliorum quorumlibet beneficiorum sæcularium et cujuscumque ordinis regularium, quæ in titulum, commendam, administrationem, et alio qnocumque modo obtineant, nec non pensionum super quibusque fructibus ecclesiasticis eisdem Cardinalibus assignatarum. Quod si lapsis prædictis sex mensibus, per alios sex menses immediate sequentes, qui pariter pro tribus canonicis monitionibus et peremptoriis terminis assignantur, ad Romanam Curiam personaliter, et cum effectu minime redierint, cumulative cum singulis prædictis pœnis, etiam pœnam privationis omnium prædictorum officiornm, munerum etiam majorum et consistorialiter concessorum, et beneficiorum quorumlibet tam sæcularium, quam regularium eo ipso itidem, et absque alia declaratione in currant. Si autem Cardinales prædicti per alios tres menses immediate sequentes, qui pariter pro tribus canonicis admonitionibus, peremptoriisque dilationibus assignantur, et sic in totum infra quindecim menses ad Romanam Curiam personaliter, et cum effectu non redierint, decernitur deveniri posse ad alias pœnas etiam quantumlibet majores, et graviores, atque individua mentione dignas, per Romanos Pontifices declarandas, atque etiam usque ad pœnam privationis Cardinalatus inclusive. Jam vcro, quum exeunte mense Septembri anni 1865, quindecim mensium spatium effiuxisset, postquam memoratus Cardinalis a civili Ecclesiæ Statu illicite recesserat, nullisque monitis atque hortationibus permotus in eadem contumacia perstaret, diguus profecto censendus erat qui, juxta Canonicas sanctiones, et prædictam Innocentii X. Constitutionem, Cardinalatus honore, et Episcopatu Sabinensi, aliisque, quibus gauderet, beneficiis privaretur. Verum ut ante grave illud animadversionis genus adhuc ei spatium relinqueremus colligendi se, et saniora consilia suscipiendi, utque securitati consuleremus fidelium Sabinorum et Sublaquensium, quibus datus ad salutem pastor ob prava illa exempla lapis offensionis evaserat, et petra scandali, per memoratas superius nostras litteras, nulla ex parte derogando Innocentii X. Constitutioni, prædictum Cardinalem suspensioni dumtaxat subjecimus, omnis jurisdictionis in Ecclesiam Sabinensem, et Abbatiam Sublaquensem, eisque Antistites præfecimus, qui ad Nostrum et S. Sedis nutum commissas sibi Diœceses administrarent. Hac porro irrogata suspensionis pœna, quæ levior multo esset, quam culpæ gravitas postularet, sperabamus quidem futurum, ut is ad bonam mentem, voluntatemque converteretur. Sed tamen concepta spes in irritum cessit; quippe eo temeritatis de venit, ut ab Apostolicis Nostris litteris ad melius informatum Pontificem provocationem palam interjecerit; atque ad eludendam, si fieri posset, Apostolicæ Sedis auctoritatem illud adhibuerit effugii genus, quod ii plerumque adhibuerunt, qui S. Sedis sententiam declinare niterentur; quam quidem appellationem prædecessores nostri Romani Pontifices merito rejecerunt ac reprobarunt. Atque in hujusmodi causa absurda prorsus erat ea provocatio, quippe quod memorati Cardinalis admissa sic erant extra dubitationem posita, ita certa atque explorata omnibus, ut nulla possent tergiversatione celari.
'Neque vero hie se continuit, sed Litteris ad utrumque Clerum, et Populum Sabil1ensem et Sublaquensem missis, et vero etiam quaquaversus diffusis, asseruit, ac propugnavit irritas prorsus esse, et nullius vis ac roboris ad quoslibct canonicos effectus Apostolicas nostras Litteras, quibus interdictum illi est jurisdictionis exercitium; nulla legitima potestate pollere præpositos a Nobis administratores, eosque tamquam furtive, ac per vim suum in ovile immissos existimandos; se unum legitimum pastorem habendum, sibi proinde obedientiam præstandam. Atque eo progressus est, ut per epistolam typis editam audacter a Nobis petierit, ut memoratas Nostras Apostolicas Litteras revocaremus, utpote injustas ac nullius vis, atque efficaciæ; absisteremus aliquando ab ipso injuste insectando; sibique integrum esse affirmaverit interdictam per Nos jurisdictiollcm in utraque Diœcesi exercere tam in foro interno, quam externo.
'Quid quod suis in scriptis in lucem editis plura congessit ad minuendam deprimendamque Apostolicæ Sedis auctoritatem pertinentia, et Nos partim privatis litteris, partim etiam in vulgus emissis omni incessere contumelia minime veritus in persona Humilitatis Nostræ Apostolicæ Sedis sanctitatem dignitatemque violaverit? quid quod publicas commendaverit ephemeridas, quæ pravis infectæ doctrinis, et Sanctæ Sedi maximopere adversæ civilem illius principatum oppugnarent, atque alleo non obscure significaverit assentiri se nonnullis per suos fautores evulgatis libellis, qui propositiones falsas et omnino damnandas complecterentur?
'Gravia hæc quidem sunt, et reprobanda, in eo tamen reprobanda maxime, planeque non ferenda, qui Episcopali et Cardinalitia dignitate insignitns, Catholicam tueri ac propagare doctrinam, peculiarem erga Beatissimi Petri Sedem exhibere reverentiam, ejusdemque honorem, jura, privilegia servare ac promovere omni ope debeat, quemadmodum sese interposita juramenti fide in accipiendis Cardinalitiis insignibus obstrinxerat. Itaque quum tres et eo amplius anni elapsi fuerint, ex quo memoratus Cardinalis pertinaciæ culpa, aliisque excessibus insordescat, nullamque faciat spem ad bonam se frugem recipiendi, quumque scriptis in vulgus editis perversis ac turbulentis fidelium animos perturbet, ac transversos agat; quaque ornatus est dignitate in religion is detrimentum, et Romanæ Ecclesiæ dedecus abutatur; ne hoc tantum malum serpat latins, ac roboretur, Nobis qui dati sumus speculatores domni Israel providendum omnino est, aliaque præcavenda pericula, quæ Ecclesiæ Dei exinde impendere noscamus. Proinde ipso vigilantiæ pastoralis officio, quantumvis inviti, uti in illum cogimur severitate pœnarum, quas adversus hujusmodi cuntumaces Sacri Canones, et Pontificiæ Constitutiones decernunt; quippe animo etiam reputamus verissima illa S. Siricii Prædedecessoris Nostri ad Himerium Episcopum Tarraconensem verba "Necesse est ut ferro abscindantur vu]nera, quæ fomentorum nonsenserint medicinam." Attamen cum prædicto Cardinali mitius agere adhuc volentes, auditis Venerabililus Fratribus Nostris S. E. R. Cardinalibus, supersedendnum a dictarum gravitate pœnarum, et suspensionem aL insignibus, et privilegiis Cardinalitiis adversus ipsum decernendam in præsens existimavimus. Quapropter certa scientia ac matura deliberatione Nostra, deque eorumdem Cardinalium consilio, auctoritate nostra Apostolica memoratum Hieronymum D'Andrea Cardinalem suspendimus, ac suspensum declaramus ab honoribus, insignibns, et juribus dignitatis Cardinalitiæ, et signanter a voce activa et passiva in electione Summi Pontificis, sic ut ejusmodi pœnæ subjectus evocari non debeat, nec possit ad Conclave, neque admitti, quam evocationem et admissionem Cardinalibus eorumque Collegio prorsus prohibemus, sublata penitus quacumque ad suffragandum, et votum pro dicta electione dandum habilitatione, eumque ad Conclave evocandum facultate, quam quovis titulo, et ratione in corpore juris clausa, aut vigore quarumcumque Constitutionum Pii PP. IV., Gregorii XV., aliorumque Prædecessorum Nostrorum allegari contigerit, quibus omnibus et singulis, quorum tenores hic pro expressis et contentis habemus et plenaria nostra auctoritate derogamus, et pro derogato haberi volumus et mandamus. Præterea memorato Cardinali D'Andrea trium mensium peremptorium terminum adsignamus, a datis hisce Nostris Litteris computandum, infra quem non per procuratorem sed personaliter et cum effectu coram nobis et hac Apostolica Sede sistere se debeat ad recipienda humiliter mandata Nostra. Quo termino inutiliter elapso, ad declarationem privationis Cardinalatus, Episcopatus sui Cardinalatus, nempe Sabinensis, nec non Abbatiæ Sublaquensis, aliorumque Beneficiorum, quibus ipse fruitur, deveniemus.
'Hæc volumus ac mandamus, decernentes has litteras etiam ex eo quod illi quorum interest, minime consenserint, et ex alia quacumque causa ullo unquam tempore de subreptionis aut obreptionis vitio, sive intentionis Nostræ defectu impugnari posse, sed ipsas præsentes litteras firmas, validas et efficaces existere et fore, suosque plenarios effectus sortiri et obtinere, et ab omnibus ad quos spectat seu spectabit inviolabiliter observari; sicque et non aliter per quoscumque quavis auctoritate et potestate fungentes sublata eis aliter judicandi et interpretandi facultate, judicari et definiri debere, atque irritum futurum et inane si secus super his a quocumque quavis auctoritate scienter vel ignoranter contigerit attentari. Non obstantibus nostra pt Cancellariæ Apostolicæ regula de jure quæsito non tollendo, nec non quibusvis etiam in Universalibus Conciliis editis Constitutionibus aliisque ordinationibus etiam favore Cardinalium evulgatis, privilegiis quoque et indultis, quibuscumque person is quavis dignitate etiam Cardinalitia fulgentibus concessis, et pluries etiam confirmatis et innovatis, ceterisque in contrarium facientibus, quamvis specifica et individua mentione dignis, quibus omnibus illorum tenores pro plene ac sufficienter expressis, atque verbo ad verbum insertis habentes, illis tamen alias in suo robore permansuris ad præmissorum effectum plene et expresse derogamus. Datum Romæ apud S. Petrum sub Annulo Piscatoris die XXIX. Septembris anno MDCCCLXVII. Pont. XXII.
The anomalous nature of the proceedings instituted against Cardinal Andrea comes out yet more clearly on comparison with what was done by the Holy See in two other cases of Cardinals in opposition, which we have not mentioned in the text. The publication of the Bull Unigenitus led in France to a dispute with the Holy See, on the part of a large portion of the clergy, which brought that kingdom to the brink of schism. At the head of those who refused to accept that Bull without satisfactory explanation of its intent was Cardinal Noailles, Archbishop of Paris; and the Jesuits set in motion all their influence to have him brought to condign punishment. The object they had at heart was to secure the blind acceptation of the Pope's Bull, and the degradation of the Prelates who had ventured on demurring; and they induced Pope Clement XI. to address a brief to Cardinal Noailles in April 1714, summoning him to accept the Bull within fifteen days 'purely, and simply, and without comment,' after the lapse of which term, if still refractory, the Pope 'declared that he would strip him of the dignity of Cardinal.'[1] Louis XIV., though in favour of the acceptation of the Bull, resented, however, this threatened exercise of the Pope's authority against the Archbishop of Paris, and would not permit the Brief to have public course. But this did not quash the dispute, which became more and more envenomed, until, in November 1716, the Pope coerced the Cardinals into subscribing a letter he had himself drawn up, whereby they professed to exhort their colleague Noailles to submit, and which was accompanied by a Brief, directed to the Regent Orleans, wherein the Pope declared that if this appeal were disregarded, no further mercy could be expected. This Brief the clergy were inhibited by royal veto from receiving, and in March 1717 four Bishops lodged with the Sorbonne a formal appeal, in the matter of the Bull Unigenitus, to a future General Council, and this appeal Cardinal Noailles approved as quite canonical, although he himself still abstained from the same step. But when it seemed certain that in Rome the proceeding of the Bishops was about to be censured, Noailles himself lodged, though for a time secretly, a similar appeal to the Pope, melius informandus, and to a General Council in the matter of the Bull, and of the Pope's refusal to explain it. Manifestly here was an act of possibly very deferential, but decidedly very distinct, resistance to the will of the Pope, who was, on his part, little disposed to put up with it. Agents were now despatched to and fro between Paris and Rome, but no form of explanation which Noailles could suggest found acceptance with the Pope, and at last, on the 3d March 1718, there appeared a decree of the Holy Office condemning severely the appeal of the four Bishops and Cardinal Noailles. This was followed up by tidings of the imminent issue of a Brief declaring those schismatics who did not accept the Bull simply and purely, whereupon Noailles, to have the start of the Pope, convened a General Assembly of the Chapter of Notre Dame where he made public his appeal, which next day was stuck against the church-doors in his diocese. This led to a furious decree of the Inquisition of the 12th August 1719 against the Cardinal, and in July, Dorsanne tells us, the Pope's mind was wholly set on the project of stripping Noailles of his hat and stockings. Yet with all the passions excited against the recalcitrant obstinacy of the French Prelate in refusing to accept Papal dictation implicitly, the desire to wreak the uttermost vengeance on his head was arrested by the sense of the practical difficulties that stood in the way of its accomplishment. In spite of the Pope's animosity and the fanning action of the Jesuits, it was found desirable to let the matter drop. Cardinal Noailies, though censured and fulminated against, escaped further prosecution, and continued Archbishop of Paris to his death, before which he had reconciled himself with his adversaries by a compromise, due mainly to the Regent Orleans's influence.
The other case that offers a remarkable contrast to the mode in which Pius IX. has acted, is that of the protest signed on 6th April 1803, in London, by the French emigrant Bishops, headed by Cardinal Montmorency-Laval against the Bulls Ecclesia Christi and Qui Christi Domini, which Pius VII. had issued with the view of superseding them in their Sees after the conclusion of the Concordat. If there be such a thing as canonical obedience due to a Pope's utterance, simply because uttered by a Pope and irrespective of its subject, then certainly these Prelates who distinctly impugned solemn Bulls must have been guilty of it; and yet it does not seem that Pius VII. in any manner proceeded against Cardinal Montmorency-Laval.
- ↑ See Journal de L'Abbé Dorsanne contenant tout ce qui s'est passé à Rome et en France dans l'Affaire de la Constitution 'Unigenitus,' vol. i. p. 192. This is the most complete and official account of this curious quarrel.