Merchandising the popes: Leo XIII

From Pius IX onwards, popes began to market their works using new techniques, especially photography. Leo XIII still used coloured postcards for the Holy Year of 1900. This Holy Year was difficult because the Roman question had not yet been resolved, which only happened in 1929 with the Lateran Treaties.

It was therefore a point of contention as to whether public Catholic events could take place. There were also counter-events organised by Masonic Italy. In this respect, such postcards were not as harmless as they seem, but were part of the battle for sovereignty of interpretation over Rome.

Interestingly, the postcard shown here was produced by the Italian postal service. The stamps show King Victor Emmanuel III. So a tentative co-operation is already in the offing here, even if the two rivals - Leo and Victor Emmanuel - are keeping their distance: one's portrait on the front, the other's on the back! .

Rector Anton de Waal wrote in his chronicle on 12 December 1899:
"The Cardinal (Rampolla) thought he should bring the matter to the Holy Father. Today he gave me the explanation that the procession should not take place out of consideration for the wishes of the Italian government; in St Peter's we are free to hold any devotion and so on. It is very strange that nothing is done by the Church to prepare the Romans for the holy year. On previous jubilees, sermons were even held in public places. Now the Romans are only interested in how they can profit from the Holy Year. Not a trace of religious stimulation and movement! Not a trace!"

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Category: Roman notes