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Handout #218 |
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The 1801 Concordat |
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Convention between His holiness Pius VII and
the French Government.
The Government of the Republic recognizes that the Catholic, Apostolic and Roman religion is the religion of the great majority of citizens. His Holiness similarly recognizes that this same religion has gained and at this moment still expects the greatest good and the greatest renown from the establishment of Catholic worship in France and from the particular profession made of it by the Consuls of the French Republic. As a consequence, after this mutual recognition, both for the good of religion and for the maintenance of internal tranquility, they are agreed on what follows: Article 1. The Catholic, Apostolic and Roman religion shall be freely practiced in France, its worship shall be public, in conformity to the police regulations which the government shall judge necessary for public tranquility. Article 2. A new demarcation of French dioceses shall be made by the Holy See, in concert with the government. Article 3. His Holiness shall declare to the bishops of France that he expects of them, with a firm confidence, for the sake of peace and unity, every kind of sacrifice, even that of their sees ... |
