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Content in this edit is translated from the existing French Misplaced Pages article at fr:Ralliement (catholicisme en France); see its history for attribution.

The Ralliement refers to the policy adopted by some Catholics in France to support the French Third Republic following the publication of the papal encyclical Au milieu des sollicitudes on February 16, 1892, by Pope Leo XIII. Supporters of this position were called the Ralliés (Rallying Catholics).

According to Bruno Dumons, "The emergence of a more moderate Republic encouraged Catholics to embrace reconciliation. By endorsing openness, Roman and episcopal authorities fostered initiatives attempting a conservative Catholic right-wing experiment, which renounced monarchy and accepted republican institutions.".

This policy of rapprochement with secular republicanism initially generated great hope among the Ralliés—Christian democrats and liberal Catholics—but was shattered by the Dreyfus affair at the end of the 19th century. "The wave of anti-Semitism that followed engulfed French Catholicism, despite a handful of Dreyfusards. This well-documented episode caused a political crisis, resulting in divided Catholic political stances—from the Action Française (1898) to Le Sillon (1899)—and a republican 'defense government' seeking to revive secularism out of fear of clericalism".

Church Stance Before the Ralliement

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Background

The Ralliement followed the failure of the Boulangist coup d'état in 1889, which demonstrated the resilience of French republican institutions. After the 1889 elections, the movement gained momentum. Albert de Mun wrote to the royalist pretender stating that restoration via universal suffrage was impossible, though the causes of monarchism remained. He advocated for a more conservative, religiously focused approach.

At the same time, Cardinal Charles Lavigerie of Algiers accepted republican priests.

In 1890, Cardinal Domenico Ferrata reported to Pope Leo XIII, advising Catholics to dissociate from anti-republicanism.

"Toast of Algiers"

On November 12, 1890, Cardinal Lavigerie hosted French naval officers in Algiers. Raising his glass, he declared: "When a people's will has been clearly expressed...it becomes necessary to embrace the form of government to save the nation."

This declaration, orchestrated by the Vatican, paved the way for the 1892 encyclical Au milieu des sollicitudes.

Encyclical Au milieu des sollicitudes

The encyclical Au milieu des sollicitudes called for reconciliation between the Church and France's secular government. Pope Leo XIII urged Catholics to support the republic for the common good while maintaining religious principles.

References

1. Durand, Jean-Dominique (1992). "Les lendemains de Rerum novarum dans la Loire". In Jean-Dominique Durand (ed.) (ed.). Cent ans de catholicisme social à Lyon et en Rhône-Alpes (in French). et al. Éditions de l'Atelier. p. 71. ISBN 978-2-7082-2954-9. Retrieved 2022-06-18. {{cite book}}: |editor= has generic name (help); Unknown parameter |subtitle= ignored (help)
2. ^ Dumons, Bruno (2013). Dumons and Christian Sorrel (eds.), Bruno (ed.). Catholicisme et politique (19th century). Presses universitaires de Rennes. pp. 19–35. doi:10.4000/books.pur.114435. ISBN 978-2-7535-2801-7. {{cite book}}: |editor-last= has generic name (help); Unknown parameter |book-title= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |isbn2= ignored (help)
3. ^ Ward, James E. (1964). "The French Cardinals and Leo XIII's Ralliement Policy". Church History. 33 (1): 60–73. doi:10.2307/3163260. JSTOR 3163260. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
4. ^ Joly, Bertrand (2022). Aux origines du populisme (in French). CNRS Éditions. pp. 642–643. ISBN 978-2-271-13972-6. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |subtitle= ignored (help)
5. Xavier de Montclos (1966). Le Toast d'Alger. Documents 1890-1891. De Boccard. p. 68.
6. Xavier de Montclos (1966). Le Toast d'Alger. Documents 1890-1891. De Boccard. pp. 10–11.
7. Vismara Chiappa, Paola (1982). "Église et État en France au début du Ralliement". Revue d'histoire de l'Église de France. 68 (181): 213–233. doi:10.3406/rhef.1982.1699. Retrieved 2021-12-12.

See Also

History of the Catholic Church in France Au milieu des sollicitudes Esprit nouveau Relations between France and the Vatican == Further Reading == Template:...

• Ralliement (Catholicism in France)
• History of Catholicism in France