Temporal Power

Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)

in history, a term applied to the rule of the pope as a king. The Church of Rome early acquired property. The catacombs near Rome belonged to the church. The Emperor Constantine permitted the wealthy to leave their homes and lands to the bishop of Rome. In this way a large amount of territory came into possession of the pope in Italy and elsewhere, in the capacity of an owner, but not as a ruler. In the chaotic condition that prevailed, there are accounts of almost endless strife between the pope and the petty princes of Italy concerning the papal possessions. In 754 Pepin, king of the Franks, made Pope Stephen II ruler, that is to say, king, of twenty-two cities, chiefly in Lombardy. This was the beginning of the publicly acknowledged civil rule of the pope. Henceforth the patrimony of St. Peter, known variously as the Papal Dominion and the Papal States, was recognized as an independent state, and the pope as a civil ruler. Territory was added from time to time. Toward the close of the seventeenth century the papal territory attained its greatest extent. Napoleon began the work of reduction in 1797. After various encroachments and restorations, in which jealous neighbors bore a part, the last territory of the pope, including the Eternal City itself, passed under the rule of Victor Emmanuel , king of Italy, December 20, 1870, and the last trace of temporal power disappeared. In 1871, by way of respect, the Italian government granted the Vatican, the present papal residence, the Lateran, the former papal residence, and the papal villa, a summer residence, what are known as extra-territorial rights. In this respect, the privileges of the papal court are similar to those of a foreign embassy. The home and offices of the pope are not subject to police or other government surveillance.