Father Hippolyte Guibert had gone to Paris to fund-raise for the seminary in Corsica and to plead the cause of Eugene with King Louis Philippe. On 11 August 1835 he wrote to Father Tempier to report on his visit with the King. Guibert wrote:<\/p>\n
I then told him that when passing through Marseilles, I had seen the venerable bishop who had ordained me and, knowing that I was coming to the capital, the venerable old man told me the grief he was suffering in the closing hours of his life, because of his nephew\u2019s predicament and because of the calumnies of which he was the victim.<\/em><\/p>\n After the Ajaccio superior finished his vindication of the Bishop of Icosia, Louis Philippe answered:<\/p>\n that he was very glad to hear what I had just told him and that he hoped he had been mistaken; that, regardless of what had happened, he was still willing to forget everything. Once this first point was won, Guibert pushed on by recalling \u2018the disastrous decree which had taken away French citizenship from a man like the Bishop of Icosia who is French to the very depths of his soul.\u2019 The king then said to me: \u2018Do you realize that he accepted a titular bishopric without my permission?\u2019 \u2018Yes, I know that, Sire, but I assure Your Majesty that it was done in good faith and in ignorance of the decree, and not from any motive.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n \u2018Very well! I take your word for that,\u2019 replied the king. \u2018For the rest, I would want nothing better than to withdraw that decree; however, the matter must be handled according to the usual procedure. Louis Philippe concluded by declaring that he would look \u2018very favor\u00ad ably upon any steps taken to restore harmony. Religion will gain by it<\/em>.\u2019\u00a0Quoted in Leflon II p. 494-495<\/p>\n A week later, Father Guibert had an audience with the Queen, reported in Leflon II p. 496:<\/p>\n On August 17, the queen to whom \u201cthe king had spoken regarding Guibert\u2019s two requests,\u201d in her turn, granted the superior of Ajaccio an audience. Marie- Amelie made quick dispatch of the first matter by promising \u201cto provide for our chapel,\u201d and then immediately took up the matter of the Bishop of Icosia. Guibert then offered his vindication, emphasized the worth of the prelate, \u201ca man of great ability,\u201d and requested the mediation of the queen, who proved \u201ckind and understanding beyond all words.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The path to reconciliation had been successfully begun.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Father Hippolyte Guibert had gone to Paris to fund-raise for the seminary in Corsica and to plead the cause of Eugene with King Louis Philippe. On 11 August 1835 he wrote to Father Tempier to report on his visit with … Continue reading