The pontificate of Pius XI. will be chiefly remembered in history for the settlement of the "Roman Question" on Feb. 11, 1929 (see below), and for the pope's unremitting efforts on behalf of peace in a world that seemed ready at any moment to plunge into an other general war. He was the first pope to address Roman Catho lics throughout the world by radio, and his frequent messages and encyclicals had a pronounced effect on international relations, particularly during the last four or five years of his reign. He op posed communism (which he often identified with atheism) in all forms; but he also frequently denounced the narrow racial creeds and the anti-Semitism of the fascist States.
Mussolini had, in 1926, expressed the wish that a solution of the conflict between the Italian State and the Vatican should be arrived at, a wish that was communicated to Pius XI., which found a favourable reception in that quarter. Unofficial, semi official and, eventually, official negotiations followed during the years 1927 and 1929, but were kept strictly secret. The councillor of State, Signor Barone, acted as the Italian representative, Mon signor Borgongini Duca and Signor Pacelli as representatives of the pope, although in the last phase, after Signor Barone's death, the negotiations were conducted by Mussolini and Cardinal Gas parri, with Signor Pacelli as the sole intermediary. It was not until Jan. 1929 that rumours of an imminent solution of the "Roman Question" began to circulate. On Feb. 7 Cardinal Gasparri in formed the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, ex pressly summoned by him, that an agreement had been concluded and was about to be signed.
Mussolini's goodwill and powers of translating visions into facts, combined with the pope's definite aspiration for peace and concord at home and abroad, united to bring about a great and historic event, which happened with dramatic suddenness on Feb. 11. At noon on that day a treaty was executed at the palace of the Lateran in Rome by which Pius XI. became sovereign of a newly-created State, "The City of the Vatican." Three docu ments were signed, respectively, for the high contracting parties by Cardinal Gasparri, papal secretary of State, and Mussolini. The treaty, concordat and financial convention, which had to receive the ratification of the king of Italy and the supreme pontiff within four months from the signature, took effect from the moment of ratification.
The political treaty between Italy and the Holy See consists of a preamble and 27 articles. It recognizes the full property, exclusive dominion and sovereign jurisdiction of the Holy See over the Vatican as at present constituted, and for this purpose "The City of the Vatican" is constituted, in which there can be no interference by the Italian Government. The boundaries of
the Vatican city are indicated in the map annexed to the treaty. The Vatican city is endowed by the Italian Government with various public services. Territorial immunities are provided for the patriarchal basilicas, and certain edifices outside the Vatican city in which the Holy See houses its congregations and offices. Also the right of the Holy See to send its own diplomatists to foreign countries, and receive foreign diplomatists according to the general rules of international law, is recognized by Italy.
It is also declared that the Vatican wishes to remain, and will remain, extraneous to the temporal competitions between other States, as well as international congresses convened for this pur pose, unless the parties in conflict appeal unanimously to its mission of peace, and reserves the full right, in any case, to the exercise of its moral and spiritual power. In consequence thereof the Vatican territory will always be considered neutral and in violable.
The following declaration is of supreme importance to future historians :—"The Holy See considers that with the agreements signed to-day it possesses the guarantees necessary to provide due liberty and independence to the spiritual government of the dioceses of Rome and of the Catholic Church in Italy and the whole world. It declares the Roman question definitely and ir revocably settled and therefore eliminated, and recognizes the kingdom of Italy under the dynasty of the house of Savoy with Rome as the capital of the Italian State. Italy on its side rec ognizes the State of the Vatican city under the sovereignty of the supreme pontiff. The Law of Guarantees and any other law or act contrary to the present treaty is abrogated." For the article in the Concordat which concerns Italy and the Canon law, and the question of religious instruction, see ITALY. According to the financial convention, the Holy See, as a definite settlement of all its financial relations with Italy, in consequence of the loss of its temporal power in 1870, accepts 750,000,000 lire (£8,152,000) in cash and 1,000,000,00o lire 410,869,000) in Italian State bonds bearing interest at 5%. This sum is less than what Italy would have paid if the Holy See had accepted the allowance offered under the Law of Guarantees of May 13, 1871. On the day following the signing of the treaty, Pius XI. ap peared on the balcony of St. Peter's and gave the pontifical blessing, Urbi et Orbi, in the presence of some 100,00o people gathered in the square, amidst scenes of unprecedented en thusiasm.