f King Victor Emmanuel
appeared before Rome and occupied it to the great satisfaction of
the Romans, and in spite of all the protests of the pope. The latter
lost his temporal powers, although he was permitted to retain the
Vatican. This completed the unification of Italy.

The completion of the unification of Italy, of course, created many
difficult internal problems, chief of which was the adjustment
between the state and the church. The latter, as represented by the
pope, refused to become reconciled to the new conditions or to
acknowledge the legality of the so-called Laws of the Guarantees,
according to which he was given all the privileges of a sovereign,
the possession of the Vatican and Lateran palaces, and a
considerable annual income. None of these appeased the church, which
steadfastly refused to recognize the existence of the Italian state.
The difficulties created thereby can readily be understood if one
considers the immense influence that the Roman Catholic Church
possesses over the minds of its members, and if one further
remembers that practically all Italians are devout Catholics.

For many years after the unification of Italy and the destruction of
the church's temporal power, continuous and strong efforts were made
by the latter's adherents to restore to the pope that of which, as
they claimed, he had been deprived illegally. The only way in which
the Italian Government could subdue and overcome these efforts was
by legislation which would make these efforts not only futile but
also dangerous to the pope's friends, and these repressive practices
naturally resulted in a strong undercurrent of dissatisfaction.
These conditions, as well as a great many economic problems, very
difficult of solution, kept the new kingdom sufficiently occupied to
keep it out of international politics for a considerable period of
time. It was not long, however, before Italy was bound to be drawn
into the general scramble for colonial possessions. Italy's
interests in this direction were rather restricted, but within these
restrictions they were very intense. Its geographical situation made
it evident that any attempt on the part of any foreign power to gain
or increase its influence in northern Africa would be a matter of
grave concern to Italy. France had been deeply interested for many
years in north Africa, and when the French Republic showed signs of
strengthening and enlarging its interests, immediately after it had