ABSTRACT
Leo suggests that the church would recognize any form of government that respected its rights, adding that it is not wrong to prefer a democratic form of government, so long as it respected the Catholic doctrine regarding the origin and exercise of power. He thus proved more diplomatic and discriminating than Pius IX in his rejection of progress, separating legitimate from impermissible developments. This pope sought an accommodation of sorts with the modern world, but on Christian, Catholic and papal terms. The new pope regretted this development, believing that improved relations would prove beneficial for both. The pontiff also considered the conflict with Germany counter-productive. He therefore dispatched a letter to the German emperor, calling for the restoration of amicable relations between Rome and the Reich. Shorn of the temporal power, Pope Leo attempted to enhance the international position of the papacy and advance the interest of the universal church.
