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press have ruined it so much in the mind of the masses, they have so ruined its mission, that, if I were
to reign there, do you know what I would do?
Montesquieu: What?
Machiavelli: I would provoke a schism in the Church that would break all the ties that bind the clergy
to the Court of Rome, because that is the Gordian Knot. I would have my press, my publicists and my
politicians say the following: "Christianity is independent of Catholicism; what Catholicism prohibits,
Christianity permits; the independence of the clergy, its submission to the Court of Rome, are purely
Catholic dogmas; such an order of things is a perpetual threat to the security of the State. Those loyal to
the kingdom must not have a foreign prince as a spiritual leader; this leaves domestic order at the
discretion of a power that could turn hostile at any moment; this hierarchy from the Middle Ages, this
tutelage of people in their infancy, can no longer be reconciled with the virile genius of modern
civilization, with its luminaries and its independence. Why seek in Rome a director of consciences?
Why would not the leader of political authority also be the leader of religious authority at the same
time? Why should the sovereign not be the pontiff?" Such would be the language that one would have
published by the press, especially the liberal press, and it is very probable that the people would listen
to it with joy.
Montesquieu: If you believe this, and if you dared to try such an enterprise, you would promptly learn
-- and in a terrible manner, certainly -- the power of Catholicism, even in the nations in which it seems
to have weakened.[7]
Machiavelli: Try it?! Great God! On bended knee, I beg pardon from our divine master for simply
espousing this sacrilegious doctrine inspired by hatred of Catholicism; but God, who instituted human
power, did not forbid it from protecting itself from the enterprises of the clergy, which furthermore
violates the precepts of the Gospels when it is not subordinate to the prince. I know well that the clergy
would only conspire due to an elusive influence, but I would find the means of stopping the intention
that directs the influence, even if it came from the Court of Rome.
Montesquieu: How?
Machiavelli: It would be sufficient for me to point out to the Holy See the moral state of my people,
shuddering under the yoke of the Church, aspiring to break it, capable of separating itself in its turn
from the heart of Catholic unity, and throwing itself into the schism of the Greek or Protestant Church.
Montesquieu: A threat instead of action!
Machiavelli: How you deceive yourself, Montesquieu, and you seem to underestimate my respect for
the pontifical throne! The only role that I would want to play, the only mission that would belong to my
[hypothetical] Catholic sovereign, would precisely be defender of the Church. In contemporary times,
as you know, temporal power is seriously threatened by irreligious hatred and the ambition of the
northern regions of Italy. So, I would say to the Holy Father: "I will defend you against them all; I will
save you; this would be my duty, my mission; but at least do not attack me, support me with your moral
influence." Would this be too much to ask when I myself expose my popularity by coming to the
defense of temporal power, which today, alas, is completely discredited in the eyes of what one calls
European democracy? This would not stop me; not only would I put into check any enterprise against
the sovereignty of the Holy See on the part of the neighboring States, but if by misfortune it was
attacked, if the papacy was chased from the pontifical States (as has already been seen), only my
bayonets would be able to bring it back and would always maintain it, while I am alive.
Montesquieu: Actually, this would be a master-stroke, because if you would make Rome a perpetual
garrison, you could almost dispose of the Holy See, as it would reside in a province of your kingdom.
Machiavelli: Do you believe that, after such service rendered to the papacy, it would refuse to support
my power; that even the Pope would refuse to crown me in my capital? Are such events without
example in history? [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]