ABSTRACT
One of Napoleon’s first priorities was to re-establish good relations with the Papacy, which had fought the revolutionary Church settlement tooth and nail. Napoleon gained everything he desired in the Concordat: he appointed the bishops and archbishops of the French Church, and all bishops had to swear an oath of fidelity to the French Republic. Convention between the French Government and his Holiness Pius VII
The government of the French Republic recognises that the Roman, Catholic and apostolic religion is the religion of the great majority of French citizens.
His Holiness likewise recognises that this same religion has derived and at this moment again expects the greatest benefit and grandeur from the establishment of Catholic worship in France and from the personal profession which the Consuls of the Republic make of it.
In consequence, after this mutual recognition, as much for the benefit of religion as for the maintenance of internal tranquility, they have agreed on the following.
Article 1. The Catholic, apostolic and Roman religion shall be freely exercised in France. Its worship shall be public, and in conformity with the police regulations which the government shall deem necessary for the public tranquility.
Article 2. The Holy See, in concert with the government, will make a new division of the French diocese.
Article 3. His Holiness declares to the holders of French bishoprics what he expects from them, with firm confidence, for the good of peace and unity, every sacrifice, even that of their sees. After this exhortation, if they refuse the sacrifice demanded by the good of the Church (a refusal that His Holiness nevertheless does not expect), he will be provided, by new office holders, to the government of the bishoprics of the new divisions, in the following manner:
Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul, upholder and restorer of the Catholic faith in France. The policies of religious and social reconciliation carried out during the Consulate enabled Bonaparte to restore a degree of political stability in France. In this engraving, Bonaparte, with his hand literally supporting the cross and standing next to the Papal Nuncio, Cardinal Caprara, is portrayed as the upholder and restorer of the Catholic faith in France. Source: Bibliothèque nationale de France.A grayscale portrait illustrates the crucified form of Jesus with Napoleon supporting the cross with his hand. This central illustration is surrounded by angels, supporters, putti, and mother Mary, all among dense clouds.https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781032618814/e9ac31eb-0a68-4fdc-b417-e6e5b1e67c6c/content/fig21_1.tif" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/>Article 4. The First Consul of the Republic will make appointments, in the three months following the publication of the bull of His Holiness, to the archbishoprics and bishoprics of the new divisions. His Holiness shall confer canonic institution, following the forms established in relation to France before the change of government [that is, before the Revolution].
Article 5. The First Consul shall also make nominations to bishoprics that fall vacant in the future; canonic institution shall be granted by the Holy See, in conformity with the preceding article.
Article 6. Before entering upon their functions, the bishops shall directly swear, at the hands of the First Consul, the oath of loyalty which was in use before the change of government, expressed in the following terms:
I swear and promise to God, upon the holy scriptures, to obey and remain loyal to the government established by the Constitution of the French Republic. I also promise not to have any correspondence, nor to assist by any counsel, nor to support any league, either within or without, which is contrary to the public tranquility; and if, within my diocese or elsewhere, I learn that anything to the prejudice of the State is going on, I will make it known to the government.
Article 7. Ecclesiastics of the second order shall swear the same oath at the hands of the civil authorities designated by the government.
Article 8. The following prayer shall be recited at the end of divine service, in all the Catholic churches in France:
Domine, salvam fac Republicam; – [God save the Republic]
Domine, salvos fac Consules – [God save the Consuls].
Article 9. Bishops shall make new divisions of parishes within their diocese, which will only come into effect after the consent of the government.
Article 10. Bishops will name their parish priests. The choice can only be made from people approved by the government.
Article 11. Bishops may have a chapter in their cathedrals, and a seminary for their diocese, without the obligation of the government to endow them.
Article 12. All metropolitan churches, cathedrals, parishes and other nonalienated property necessary for worship, shall be placed at the disposition of the bishops.
Article 13. His Holiness, for the good of peace and for the successful reestablishment of the Catholic religion, declares that neither he nor his successors will trouble in any manner the purchasers of alienated ecclesiastical goods, and in consequence, the ownership of these same goods, the rights and revenues attached to them, shall remain untransferable in their hands or those of their relatives who are entitled to them.
Article 14. The government assures a suitable salary to bishops and parish priests whose dioceses and parishes are comprised with the new division.
Article 15. The government shall likewise take measures so that French Catholics may, if they so desire, give donations to Church foundations.
Article 16. His Holiness recognises in the First Consul of the French Republic the same rights and prerogatives enjoyed by former governments.
Article 17. It is agreed by the contracting parties that, in case one of the successors of the current First Consul is not Catholic, the rights and prerogatives mentioned in the above article, and the nomination of bishoprics, shall be regulated, in relation to him, by a new convention.
Ratifications shall be exchanged at Paris within forty days.
Done at Paris, 26 Messidor, Year IX of the French Republic.
Source: Buchez and Roux, Histoire parlementaire de la Révolution française, vol. 38, pp. 465–70.