WI the Papal States survive to the present day

proximefactum

Okay, this WI butterflies away much of the Risorgimento.

Let's say that the Pope still holds significant temporal powers beyond ruling a OTL postage stamp. He's got all of Rome and all of Lazio for certain, with possibilities for some of the land holdings that were taken away during the 19th century Italian wars of independence. The tiara is cool, but seriously, could the Pope today be a king and a shepherd? What effect would the Pope's temporal rule have on Vatican II and the other reforms of the latter 20th century?

Would modern Europe let a Pope be an autocratic king? I have a feeling that the Papal States would come undone simply because autocracy would be untenable in a modern Europe. The Pope would have to elect a "second Curia" of lay elected leaders. But in order to have a truly transparent modern constitutional monarchy, the Pope would have to allow the free formation of political parties and free and fair elections. What would happen if a "pro-abortion" or radical socialist party was the lead party in a coalition government? I can't see the Vatican admiting political parties that contradict Catholic values. Hence, back to autocracy, and the diminishing viability of a Pope as King.

Still, if anyone could work out a way that the Pope could hold temporal power today, I'd be interested to know.
 

Venusian Si

Well, the pope could always be a figure head. While that would lead to laws that the church doesn't agree with, it would still give the church more "physical" strength then it does now. Besides, when power is involved, morals can and usually are sold.
 

Chengar Qordath

Just to toss out a wilder possibility, how about having the Italian unification lead by the Papal States?

Also, shouldn't this be in pre-1900?
 

Valdemar II

Banned
The butterflies and direct changes needed to keep the Papal States would change the entire Europe. So maybe we should focus on that first.

Okay let's say that Napoleon III isn't a idiot, and avoid a war with Prussia. the rump Papal State survive until the French move their troops out, so we need a pro-Catholic regime to survive in France for decades more.

Europe look rather different Germany is split in the North German Confederation, Austria and the Southen German States, that compination is rather stable, NGC will grow into a power the size of France, but doesn't look like a potential unipolar power of Europe, AH is much more stable without the German alternative, especially because Bavaria and Wüttermberg will fall into AHs sphere. Russia will turn against Prussia and AH in the name of pan-Slavism but lack a clear ally in the west, at the same same time Italy want Rome, so France is the primary enemy, France position is stronger so it keep butt into other states internal affairs, but want to avoid a war against a Italian, Prussian and Austrian alliance, so they don't do anything extreme. That's the Europe the Papal States exist in 1900. The question is how it will evolve.
 
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