Pope Gregory XVI

Ban on railways as "ways of the devil"

The Pope banned railways in the Papal territories, calling then "chemins d'enfer" ("ways of the devil": French for railway "chemins de fer" - "iron ways").

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The embarrassed financial condition in which Gregory left the States of the Church makes it doubtful how far his lavish expenditure in architectural and engineering works, and his magnificent patronage of learning in the hands of Mai, Mezzofanti, Gaetano, Moroni and others, were for the real benefit of his subjects.

Related Topics:
Mai - Mezzofanti - Moroni

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