| He
achieved reconciliation with the Catholic Church. France
had been divided since 1789, when the National Assembly put
the church under state control. The Pope had lost the right
to appoint priests and bishops in France. Church lands had
been confiscated. Who was now the rightful owner? The Church
in Rome claimed to be. This caused great instability and
Napoleon was determined to end the discord.
In
1801 he signed an agreement with Pope Pius VII reestablishing
the Church in France.. It was The Concordat of 1801.
But it was under Napoleon's terms. The Church agreed to
give up their claim to the lost lands. The principle of
religious freedom which the revolution had guaranteed remained
in effect. The government would continue to select the
bishops, but would submit them to the Pope for his approval.
Bishops would appoint only priests acceptable to the government.
In return Napoleon graciously recognized the Catholic Church
as the religion of the great majority of Frenchmen. The
Church had lost much, but the dispute was over.
Part
of Napoleon: Tyrant or
Hero exhibit
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