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 NUNCIOS 437

always paid first to the Pope and then to the Secretary, arc repaid by the second in the Pope's name. He goes out of office when his master dies; and as a general rule the confidential relationship is maintained throughout the Pope's life. It is seldom that a Pontiff takes over, to- gether with the ideas of his predecessor, their living exponent as Pius XI so graciously did.

The first division of the Secretariate of State is entrusted with the conferring of positions and titles, and above all with the correspondence with the nuncios. These diplomatic representatives of the Pope in foreign countries were not only recognized at the Congress of Vienna, but were honoured with the right to take precedence over other diplo- mats of the same rank. They are ambassadors, diplomats of the first class. The inter-nuncios are regarded as legates, and are diplomats of the second class. They are given by way of assistance an uditorc whose rank is that of a secretary to the legation and a private secretary. In addition to what might be termed their secular diplomatic office, the nuncios are also expressly given an ecclesiastical right of supervision over the country into which they are sent that transcends that of even an archbishop. At this point the Curialistic hierarchy comes into conflict so sharply and painfully with the apostolic hierarchy that Rome has often had to act sternly to end the resistance. The great nuncia- tures ar* looked upon as positions occupied by men who may later on be cardinals; but a cardinal cannot be a nuncio, and if the red hat should come to a Papal diplomat while he is still in office, he must carry on as a pro-nuncio until relieved of his duties. A number of Popes have risen from among these ambassadors of the Church. As is well-known, Pius XI was Papal nuncio to Poland; and as the Papal commissioner during the plebiscite in Upper Silesia his neutral at- titude brought down so much hatred and criticism from both sides that a whole year later, when he ascended the Papal throne, there was a trying situation to deal with in both Poland and Germany. The tradition that any nuncio may become a "crowned prince of the Church" is naturally a great boon in so far as regard for their position and for their official wishes is concerned. It goes without saying that the Curia takes great pains to choose these diplomats carefully, know- ing full well that not only the Concordats but the whole of the mani-

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