The Roman Question

Abstract

This chapter examines French military intervention in Italy in 1859, the collapse of Papal authority in the temporal states, and the anxiety caused amongst French Catholics, a concern renewed in 1864 by the prospect of the withdrawal of the French garrison protecting Rome and subsequent need for renewed military intervention, developments which stimulated a massive rallying to the cause of the Pope through prayer, petitions, donations and recruits for the Papal army. The widespread sense of betrayal amongst Catholics also stimulated growing political opposition to the regime and, on the part of the State, a curtailment of the political freedom previously enjoyed by the Church.