What is Quum memoranda and when was it issued?
Quum memoranda is a papal brief issued by Pope Pius VII in 1809. The document arrived as a direct counter to an imperial decree from Napoleon dated the 17th of May 1809.
Questions about Quum memoranda
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who did Quum memoranda excommunicate without naming them directly?
The text included an excommunication against Napoleon without explicitly naming him within its lines. It also targeted all individuals who contributed to what the Holy See viewed as a violation of its temporal power.
Where were copies of Quum memoranda posted on the morning after publication?
By the following morning, printed copies appeared on the walls of three major churches in Rome. These locations included Saint Mary Major, Saint John Lateran, and Saint Peter.
When did French troops arrest Pope Pius VII following the release of Quum memoranda?
In the early hours of the 6th of July, less than a month after the brief was issued, French troops entered the Quirinal Palace. They arrested Pius VII and placed him into a carriage for departure from the city.
Did Napoleon express regret about his conflict with Pope Pius VII before his death?
During his exile at Saint Helena, he spoke to General Montholon about Pope Pius VII and expressed deep regret for the conflict. He described the pontiff as an old man full of tolerance and light while acknowledging fatal circumstances embroiled their cabinets.