In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte made himself the First Consul of the French Republic. That title was, in itself, a deception. He pretended to be the “first among equals” while setting the stage for his dictatorship of France. Understanding the importance of the Church in French politics. he pretended to work toward good … Read more

On December 2, 1804, Napoleon was consecrated emperor by Pope Pius VII in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The new Emperor’s consolidated power appeared permanent. He had defeated two coalitions of the leading European powers. At that point, only England dared to fight him openly. Even so, despite the naval force at … Read more

In 1802, although overburdened with work, Father Luigi Virginio decided the time was right to expand Italy’s Amicizie. Florence appeared to be a promising venue for expansion. As seen in the previous installment, while in Vienna, Father Virginio had cultivated many relationships with Italians frequenting Princess Rospigliosi’s salon. Some were influential Florentines. … Read more

This article is part one of a three-part series on Americanist Heresy. It is based on the author’s meeting on February 12, 2025, at the American TFP’s headquarters in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania. Click here to read part two. *  *  * Some readers might be a bit confused when reading the title … Read more

With Father Nicholas Diessbach’s death in 1798, Amicizia lost its founder. That worthy priest was never able to achieve his plan to combat the Revolution in ideas. He accomplished relatively little compared to the great work he had planned. The Amicizia associations he had established were only the foundation of a grand … Read more