Folia Theologica et Canonica 6. 28/20 (2017)
IUS CANONICUM - Szabolcs Anzelm Szuromi, O.Praem., An overview on the international relations of the Holy See since the ‘Roman question' until 1967, correlated with the first codification (1917)
108 SZABOLCS ANZELM SZUROMI, O.PRAEM. had still his sovereign authority over the entire - former - Papal State.14 Nevertheless, even Italy recognized several times during the annexation the independent status of the Holy See in numerous official memorandum letters, which were delivered to several states. This legal concept had become described by Emilio Visconti-Venosta (T 1914) minister of foreign affairs on October 18* 1870. It was the basis for the document of May 13th 1871: Legge sulle prerogative del Sommo Pontefice e della S. Sede e sulle relazione dello Stato colla Chiesa, which named in brief form: ‘Guarantee-Law’. This ‘Law’ tried to guarantee the independence of the Holy See and the right to keep or develop further diplomatic relations, including the accrediting rights of ambassadors (nuncios) to states or international legal entities. Finally, intended to settle the arising financial consequences of the termination of the Papal State, means support of the central budget of the Church and annuity to the pope. However, nor Pope Pius IX, nor his successors had accepted this offered financial solution, because it could be an argument in the hands of the Italian government to justify the unjust annexation of the Papal State and the other consequences.15 This is that particular political - legal situation which created the ‘Roman Question’, and which had made a strong influence on the diplomatic capacity of the Roman Pontiff and the Holy See during the World War I (1914-1918), and also on that atmosphere wherein the first codification happened, clearly validate the unbroken, ancient rights of the Roman Pope and the Holy See in the international law. This summarized unclarified legal situation was ended by the Lateran Treaty on February 1 l'h 1929, when the document of 27 Articles had been accepted by Pope Pius XI (1922-1939) and King Vittore Emmanuel III (t 1947).16 Within the Lateran Treaty Italy has accepted the rights of the Holy See, to accredit and to receive diplomatic representatives to the states and to international recognized legal entities based on the principles of the international law (An. 12).17 It means 14 In detailed, cf. Morss, J. R., The International Legal Status of the Vatican/Holy See Complex, in The European Journal of International Law 26/4 (2016) 927-946, especially 927-931. 15 Cammeo, F„ Ordinamento giuridico dello Stato della città del Vaticano, Firenze 1932. 18-23. 16 “Che la Santa Sede e l’Italia hanno riconosciuto la convenienza di eliminare ogni ragione di dissidio fra loro esistente con l’addivenire ad una sistemazione definitive dei reciproci rapport, che sia conforme a giustizia e dalia dignità delle due Alte Parti e che, assicurando alla Santa Sede in modo stabile una condizione di fatto e di diritto la quale Le garantistica l’assoluta indipendenza per l’adempimento della Sua alta missione nel mondo, consenta alla Santa Sede stessa di riconoscere composta in modo definitivo ed irrevocabile la «questione romana», storia nel 1870 con l’annessione di Roma al Regno d’Italia sotto la dinastia di Casa Savoia; Che dovendosi, per assicurare alla Santa Sede l’assoluta e visibile indipendenza, garentir Le una sovranità indiscuta- bile pur nel campo internazionale, si è ravisata la necessità di costituire, con particolari modalità, la Città del Vaticano, riconoscendo sulla medesima alla Santa Sede la piena proprietà e l’esclusiva ed assoluta potestatà e giurisdizione sovrana (...).”: AAS 21 (1929) 209-210. 17 AAS 21 (1929) 211 ; cf. Ruda Santolaria, J. J., Los sujetos de derecho international. El caso de la Iglesia catòdica y de! Estado de la Ciudad de! Vaticano, Lima 1995. 8. Viejo-Ximénez, J. M.,
