Pope_Pius_X_and_Russia

Pope Pius X and Russia

Pope Pius X and Russia

Overview of the relationship between Pope Pius X and Russia

The relations between Pope Pius X and Russia were difficult, and the situation of Polish Catholics in Russia did not improve.

Religious freedom decrees in 1903 and 1905

Tsar Nicolas issued a decree on 22 February 1903, promising religious freedom for the Catholic Church, and, in 1905, promulgated a constitution, which included religious freedom.[1]

Opposition to the Mariavites

A religious movement supported and financed by Russia, the Mariavites, began to gain ground among Polish Catholics, although the Pope had condemned it in 1907.[2] In his encyclical Tribus circiter Pope Pius wrote to the episcopate, warning against national radicals and asking for peace and order.[3]

1907 agreement

In 1907, Pius X signed an agreement that prescribed mandatory Russian history and literature courses in Catholic seminaries in Polish Russia in exchange for greater rights for Catholics.[2]

Ea Semper

The publication of the Apostolic Letter Ea Semper, which dealt with the Eastern Rite Catholics in the United States, led to a number of defections to the Russian Orthodox Church in America.

Feeling betrayed by Russia

Toward the end of his life, Pius X felt betrayed by Russia, which had not eased the conditions of Polish Catholics. At his last public reception of the Diplomatic Corps, he publicly told the Russian ambassador, Aleksandr Nelidov:

We will not accept greetings or congratulations from Russia, which did not keep a single promise to us or to the Catholics in Russia.

As the surprised ambassador disagreed, the Pope rose from his throne and asked the ambassador to leave the room.[4][5]

References

  1. [1]
    Schmidlin III, 125
  2. [2]
    Schmidlin II, 126
  3. [3]
    Acta Pii II, 1905.
  4. [4]
    Schmidlin III 127
  5. [5]
    Diethelm, O.S.B., Walter (1956). Saint Pius X: The Farm Boy Who Became Pope. Vision Books. pp. 136–137. LCCN 56-5990. OCLC 1672245.

Bibliography

  • Acta Apostolicae Sedis ( AAS), Roma, Vaticano 1922-1960
  • L. Boudou, Le S. Siege et la Russie, Paris, 1890
  • Owen Chadwick, The Christian Church in the Cold War, London 1993
  • Handbuch der Kirchengeschichte [de], VII, Herder Freiburg, 1979, 355-380
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