The Story of the Papal Zouaves

The Early Years of Bl. Pope Pius IX

In order to understand the conflict better we have to examine the Papacy of Bl. Pope Pius IX. Elected in 1846 as a candidate put forth by the liberal camp, as he had gained a reputation for liberalism due to how he handled revolutionaries in Spoleto and since he had supported administrative reforms while in Imola. The beginning of Bl. Pope Pius IX's pontificate was characterized by his openness to comprise with ideologies that were hostile to the faith in an effort to control their influence and spread. He was by no means a liberal but was seen as someone who they could control and influence. For example, after much pressure, one of his first acts was to grant an amnesty on July 16, 1846 to various political prisoners and exiles in the Papal States. Revolutionaries used this act to push a narrative that Bl. Pius IX was a supporter of liberal causes. Despite his first encyclical, Qui Pluribus published on November 9, 1846, denouncing liberalism, freemasonry, and communism in an effort to show he wasn't a liberal himself, the revolutionaries continued to pray on his willingness to compromise. Such as coaxing him to create a civil constitution, civic guard, and a lay run government.

The revolutionary year of 1848 proved to be an especially difficult year for Bl. Pius IX. There were plans to make an Italian Federation with the Pope as the permanent head and President. However, Piedmont was unwilling to see Italy united in anyway other then under their thumb. They went to war with Austrian and the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, forcing Bl. Pius IX to abandon the plans of federation as he wanted no part in waring with a son of the Church. After Piedmont was defeated, they again considered a federated Italy but Piedmont again appeared unwilling. The situation become much worse after Pius IX's minister Pellegrino Rossi was murdered while attending the Papal States parliament on November 15. This incited a revolution in Rome, forcing Bl. Pius IX to flee to Gaeta in the Two Sicilies. An expeditionary force was created by the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, Spain, and France to destroy the Roman Republic, they were successful after fighting in 1849 and Bl. Pius IX. was restored on April 12, 1850. The ordeal made him do an about-face in his dealings with modern ideologies. Instead he became a staunch counter-revolutionary and ultramontane.

Strengthening the Papal Army

There were two options in front of Bl. Pius IX. The Cardinal Secretary of State Giacomo Antonelli wanted to rely on diplomacy, while Monsignor Xavier de Mérode, a private chamberlain of the Pope, believed that diplomacy could not be relied upon, as it was not enough to curb the nationalistic fervor of King Victor Emmanuel II and the Italian revolutionaries. He believed the only way to defend the temporal power was by force, and strengthening the Papal Army would be necessary to protect the Papal States.

This would be a huge undertaking as the Papal Army was very weak and ill-equipped. However, Mérode had a vision that the Army could be revitalized through a multinational force of pious Catholics from around the world, akin to a Crusade. Bl. Pius IX was convinced, he approved of Mérode's plan, and promoted him to Papal Minister of Arms. The volunteers of the Pope would go on to view themselves as soldiers fighting in the 9th Crusade.

The Commander of the Papal Army: La Moricière

Former French General de la Moricière was selected to lead the Papal Army. Motivated by his Catholic faith, he understood how important the coming conflict would be. In an address given to new volunteers on Easter Sunday 1860, he said:

At the sound of the grand voice which lately apprised the world from the Vatican of the dangers threatening the patrimony of St. Peter, Catholics were moved, and their emotion soon spread to every part of the earth. This is because Christianity is not merely the religion of the civilized world, but the animating principle of civilization; it is because the Papacy is the keystone of the arch of Christianity, and all Christian nations seem, in these days, to be conscious of those great varieties which are our faith. The revolution today threatens Europe as Islamism did of old, and now, as then, the cause of the Pope is that of civilization and liberty throughout the world. Soldiers, have confidence, and believe that God will raise our courage to the level of the great cause whose defense He has entrusted to our arms.

La Moricière was also important because he wanted a unit of Zouaves in his army. Having firsthand experience with the effectiveness of this type of light infantry, he had led a regiment of Zouaves in Algeria in 1838. The origins of the Zouaves can be traced back to 1831, after the French conquest of Algeria. The French made allies with the Kabyles, a Berber people living in the mountains. One of their tribes, the Zwawa, were known as fierce warriors and wanted to fight under their new rulers. Battalions of these native Zwawa were formed under the name Zouave. Shortly thereafter, companies of French Zouaves began to form. This type of elite light infantry unit became extremely popular in the 19th century, with units being raised in the Union, the Confederacy, Poland, Spain, and, of course, the Papal States. At the time, the Franco-Belgian battalion was a Zouave unit in all but name, and it wasn't long before their commander, Major Becdelievre, pushed for the adoption of the Zouave uniform.

Joseph Louis Guérin

Guérin was born in 1838 in Nantes, France. In 1860, he was in seminary and about to become a sub-deacon when he answered the call of General Lamoricie to come to the aid of the holy father, when one of his friends asked why he was joining he said “Blood is necessary to appease the anger of God; I will give mine” when he broke the news to his parents, they wept, but enthusiastically supported his decision. His Father said “I have already lost a son; but if God asks me for another I will give him!” On his journey to Rome Guérin read through the Imitation of Christ and frequently recited the office of Our Lady. He arrived on August 8th, 1860. And joined the unit the Knights of St. Peter. Shortly after Guérin's arrival the Knights were incorporated into the Franco-Belgium Battalion. Guerin was put into the 4th company.

All new recruits had to go through two sets of school's the Soldiers School and the Battalion School. The first school typically takes a month but Guérin passed in only 8 days. This helped him gain the respect of his comrades and leaders. Guérin was a model soldier, he regularly volunteered for arduous and time-consuming tasks that typically were assigned at random such as fetching water for a squad, often doing so before the command was even issued. His comrade Padioleau said of him “If we asked a man of goodwill for a chore, we always saw him first, forgetting his ease and his rest and leaving the tent if he was in bed” Guérin would endure all the annoyances of everyday life without ever complaining. Confident, he relied entirely on God and wanted to be kind to everyone. He was eager to “exercise his zeal for the salvation of souls” whenever he could. He inspired his comrades to be more faithful and zealous, encouraging his comrades who waivered he would say “Why are you afraid? If your conscience is not in peace, there is the chaplain. Our cause is the better; we fight for God, therefore we are men of eternity; what signify the few days that we will sacrifice? I have made the sacrifice of my life to the Church and Pius IX. I am not afraid to die!”

Guerin's company was assigned to one of the columns that fought at Castelfidardo, his company arrived at Loreto which was where the Holy House was, the famed home of the Holy Family, the night before the battle on Sep. 17, 1860. Tired and hungry, the Papal soldiers had endured a difficult week of marches through the mountains to reach Loreto. Through the Franco-Belgium Battalion were still eager to fight. Guérin “Passing in front of Loretto, he could not take his eyes off the dome which covers the Santa Casa” Loreto was only about 20 miles from Ancona. However, the Piedmontese were stationed in Castelfidardo, a town immediately adjacent to Loreto and on the way to Ancona, they were planning on cutting off the Papal forces from Ancona.

The next morning, Pontifical Army set out and engaged the Piedmontese in the mountains and hills of Castelfidardo in an effort to allow a portion of their force to continue on to Ancona. Guerin's Franco-Belgian company was with General Pimodan's column during the battle. During one of the pontifical bayonet charges uphill to seize a farmhouse Guérin fell. According to Pvt. Oscar de Poli Guérin took a ball to the lung. While Poli was on the ground after suffering a bayonet wound Guérin charged passed him saying “Poli, farewell Poli! Do not forget to say: Jesus, Mary; goodbye!” Fifty paces later, Poli saw Guérin fall. Later on, Cpl. Perrodil found him on battlefield lifeless “There he was, lying on his back. I bent down to touch him he was cold and stiff. I then knelt to impress on his pure brow a kiss of regret and love in the name of his parents. I took his scarf, and bade him a last farewell believing him dead. He had been very brave, poor child, and had fallen a few steps from the enemy.” Eventually Guérin regained conscience on an ambulance headed toward a temporary infirmary set up in a Castelfidardo convent. He turned to a young Italian near him and said in Latin “Tell the Priest of my hometown that I die joyfully and calmly for the cause of religion and the Pope; let him console my parents with the hope of meeting me one day in heaven” The Superior of the convent pointed out to him a prophetic coincidence that pleased Guérin: “Your name is Joseph, you fought yesterday, on the feast day of Saint Joseph of Copertino, you were laid down in front of an altar dedicated to him; tomorrow you will be transported to Osimo, where the same saint died; perhaps you will be placed in our church, where the body of Saint Joseph is kept” The next day he was brought to a Piedmontese hospital in Osimo. He suffered intensely for 7 weeks. But did not complain, instead he gave words of thanksgiving and joy. He wrote to a friend “I have made to God and to the Holy Church the sacrifice of my life. Envy my happiness and console my poor mother. Long live Pius IX! Long live the Pope King!” He repeated often “How happy I am to suffer and die slowly for Jesus Christ and his Church” In his final letter to his parents, he wrote “It is Gods will (that I die); let us bless and adore it” On Oct. 30th he felt the end was near. He received last rites and said his final words “My God, I beg of you to forgive those who have wounded me. My God accept my sufferings! Do not weep or fret my kind friends, I am going to God” He died with a smile. Almost Immediately an intense and popular piety developed around him. Over 30 miraculous healings occurred over a decade. Bl. Pope Pius IX placed a portrait of Guérin in the antechamber of his private chapel in Castel-Gandolfo. Guérin even appeared to others in visions.

Even after his death, Guérin was spoken very highly of in the Papal Zouaves. He was a constant source of intercession for them and was mentioned frequently in their writings and stories. Upon an invitation from Bl. Pius IX, the Bishop of Nantes began the canonization process in 1862. Why then is Guérin not canonized? Unfortunately, it appears he became a victim of the political climate of the time. Due to the precarious situation with the Papal States some felt it was not appropriate to potentially anger Napolean III by canonizing a Papal soldier that embodied the values of royalism and monarchism. In 1925 his caused was reconsidered but the political climate prevented the process from moving forward again this is due to the French monarchist group, Action Française being condemned by Pope Pius XI. Considering how it's been almost 100 years since Guérin's cause has been last considered his cause ought to be looked into again.

Aftermath of 1860

The campaign of 1860 ended in defeat. After Castelfidardo, the Piedmontese laid siege to Ancona which fell on September 29. The defeat resulted in Victor Emmanul II annexing the captured Papal territories and proclaiming the Kingdom of Italy. The Pope's temporal power was reduced to only the Lazio region which was Rome and its immediate surroundings. Bl. Pius IX protested these losses, but the majority of the world ignored him. While the fighting stopped momentarily, the threat against the Papal States persisted. The revolutionaries would not rest until all of Italy was united.

Over the next few years, the Papal Army grew stronger and became more well-trained. The Franco-Belgian Battalion officially transitioned to the Papal Zouaves on January 1, 1861. The term “Franco-Belgian” and “Papal Zouave” were often used interchangeably as the Papal Zouaves viewed the Franco-Belgians as part of their pedigree and considered them part of their unit. Over 10,000 men would join the Papal Zouaves over the course of its lifetime. The largest the unit ever grew was in 1868, reaching the size of a full regiment with four battalions, totaling almost 5,000 men. However, they started off as a 600-man battalion with six companies.

Unfortunately, due to a disagreement between Mérode and Becdelievre, the latter resigned command of the unit in March. Most of the soldiers wanted Athanase de Charette, the great-nephew of Vendéen General François de Charette, to lead the unit. However, since he was a legitimist, Bl. Pius IX did not want to anger Napoleon III and risk losing the French garrison stationed in Rome. Instead, Swiss Colonel Allet, who had been in the Papal Army for many years, was chosen to lead the unit, and Charette was promoted to Major. Charette's time would come, however, as he eventually led a contingent of French Papal Zouaves during the Franco-Prussian War. The men loved both men, Allet was effectionally called “Papa Allet”

Other Heroes of the 1867 Campaign

Other hero's of the 1867 campaign include the dutchman Pieter Jong who clubbed 14 Red Shirts to death before he was martyred at the battle of Monte Libretti, on October 13th, 1867. Allowing his lone company to rescue the town from 1200 Garibaldians. And Jullian Watts-Russell, an Englishman who joined the Zouaves alongside his brother. He was the first to reach the castle walls at Mentana and the youngest to die on the field that day at only 17. He was often compared to Guerin in piety and his phrase “Anima mia, anima mia, Ama Dio e tira via” My Soul, My Soul, Love thy God and go thy way.

The victory at Mentana bought the Papal States three more years. Which in turn allowed the First Vatican Council to happen starting on December 8, 1869. Without the heroism of the Papal Zouaves, would the dogma of papal infallibility and other fruits of the Council have been promulgated? The victory at Mentana led to another surge in recruitment, Dutchman would overtake as the majority nationality and for the first time large contingents of English and Canadians joined. The unit reaching its highest numbers in 1868, almost 5,000 soldiers. Over the next three years things were relatively quiet.

The 1870 Invasion

The three years of quiet was broke by the start of the Franco-Prussian War in the summer of 1870. After the Battle of Mentana, Napoleon III kept a garrison of 4,000 soldiers in Cività Vecchia. However, his war with Prussia was not going well, and he was getting desperate. He recalled the force in Rome and declared he was returning to the rules of the September convention. On September 2, Napoleon III was captured after his defeat at the Battle of Sedan. With France out of the way and Austria too weak to assist the Papal States, Victor Emmanuel II pounced on the opportunity. Afraid of having Garibaldi invade and risk destabilizing his monarchy, Victor Emmanuel II decided to use his Royal Army to invade Rome.

When word got out that the Italians were threatening Rome again, many former Papal Zouaves rushed back to Rome to come to the defense of the Holy Father. Included in those was future American Congressman Charles Tracey from New York. A second generation Irish American, Charles had grown up in Albany in a pius and influential family. When the news of the victory of Mentana broke Charles felt compelled to render his aid to the Holy Father. The 20 year old Charles joined the Zouaves at the end of 1867 and served with them periodically through the fall of 1869. He returned to New York and joined his father and brother in leading the family distillery business.

Keeping up to date with the events through the newspapers, Charles realized how dire the situation was and left for Rome in late August to rejoin his comrades. He went “as fast as rail and sail” could take him. While he was on his way Victor Emmanul II began his invasion. On September 9, the Royal Army posed themselves on the Lazio's border. Victor Emmanuel II wrote Bl. Pope Pius IX a letter and sent Count Gustavo Ponza di San Martino to deliver it the following day on September 10. The letter, which really was just a guise to request a bloodless takeover, claimed that due to the removal of French troops from the city, it was necessary for his forces to occupy the Eternal City so that they could maintain law and order from Roman revolutionaries. A strange thing to say since there were no revolutionary uprisings in Rome at the time. Bl. Pius IX did not appreciate the hypocrisy in the letter. He replied to Count Ponza. “What a race of vipers! Whited sepulchers! and wanting in faith!” Count Ponza became so afraid that he rushed out of the room and mistook a window for a door, almost falling to his death. Bl. Pius IX refused to be bullied. He rejected Victor Emmanuel II's offer, an action which certainly would lead to war, one which would be very difficult. The Italian Army had over 75,000 troops stationed on the frontier ready for action, meanwhile the Papal Army had only around 12,000 men.

After Count Ponza left, General Kanzler alongside his chief of staff, Major Rivolta, went to see Bl. Pius IX. to discuss the plans for defense. When he finished his brief, Bl. Pius IX. said “I am going to have to disappoint the army. It will have to surrender.” General Kanzler was shocked, Bl. Pius IX. explained that he did not want to lead Rome into death and destruction and leave that behind as his legacy. He wanted the army, upon invasion, to fall back onto Rome. However, bits of resistance were allowed on the way to show the world that the temporal power was being taken by force. General Kanzler, was upset at the decision, he protested and tried to persuade the Pope to allow his men to fight and die, he told him “the entire army from the highest officer to the most humble soldier wants to fight and die.” Bl. Pius IX. remained firm in his decision and responded “We choose to surrender, not to die is sometimes the bigger sacrifice.”

The Italians began their invasion on September 11. The Papal Army put up some resistance but started to fall back to Rome on the Pope's orders, the one exception being Cività Vecchia, the Papal port just north of Rome, so that the Pope could have a potential route to escape if needed. Meanwhile, Charles was still enroute to the Holy City, the fastest way was through Cività Vecchia. Instead of taking a French steamer to the city which was typical, he elected to through Germany by train. Due to their war with France, the German military was regularly seizing passenger trains. This caused his baggage to be delayed, rather than suffer a delay himself, Charles abandoned his things and proceeded to Cività Vecchia. However, when Charles arrived on September 16, he found that the port city had just surrendered

Bl. Pius IX had updated his surrender orders. The Holy City needed to be surrendered “at the first cannon shots.” And Cività Vecchia given up immediately. The Papal forces had just left when Charles arrived and the Italian General Bixio occupied the city. Charles was unsure of what do to, he spent the night at the Hotel Orlando. The following day while outside on the steps of the hotel he saw his friend Patrick Keye's O'Clery were re-united with him. O'Clery, a former Irish Zouave had served together with Charles in 1868. He had also arrived on the 16th and had found another fellow who wanted to join the Papal Zouaves, Englishman John George Kenyon. The trio found one more gentleman to join their crew, Charles Hemans, a now Roman resident of many years, writer, and correspondent for various London papers.

O'Clery revealed to Charles he was tasked with a special mission. On his journey back to Rome O'Clery had stopped in the papal consul in Marseilles. There he was given important letters and dispatches by the Consul General for the Cardinal Secretary of State and various papal military leaders, to smuggle back to Rome. The Italians had cut off all communication from the city so these documents were vital. O'Clery and Kenyon had heard that Bixio was supposed to set out dawn the following day to Rome, they believed this large movement of troops would cause enough confusion where they would be able make a break for the open country and make it to Rome before the Italian forces arrived.

The group decided to spend the night at the Orlando and find a carriage to take them to Rome in the early hours the following morning. That night, after everyone in the hotel had gone to sleep, Tracey and O'Clery stayed up went through the papers O'Clery had received. They figured the packet of papers was too bulky and they needed to reduce its size so that they could conceal it easier if they ran into Italian authorities. They burned any papers they deemed unnecessary, and took the remaining papers and letters and bundled them up in a smaller packet and put it away in a satchel.

The following morning, Bixio set off with his 20,000 men, the group found a driver who as only willing to take them as far as Palo which was about 25 miles away, they agreed and off they went. Through it was slow going and they were stopped frequently, they made it to Palo. There they came across the Italian army and, wondering what two Englishmen, an Irishman, and American were doing so close to their maneuvers, were placed under arrest. The group was brought before General Bixio himself.

General Bixio angrily turned toward the group and demanded that they hand over their passports and tell them where they intended on going. They answered truthfully that they intended on going to Rome. However, they concealed the fact that they were going so they could defend the city from his army. Instead, they claimed they were newspaper men, which was another half-truth since Hermans was one. He informed that they were not allowed to go until the city was taken by his forces and their rule was established. O'Clery described the situation further:

[General Bixio] muttered something about sending us back to Cività Vecchia, and then suddenly apologizing for his rudeness of manner, he invited us to join his mess. And enter Rome with his troops. As Pontifical Zouaves we could not allow ourselves to be under a compliment to one of Garibaldi's lieutenants, so we declined his offer with thanks, preferring to take up our quarters for the night in the deserted albergo (inn) at Palo, in front of which Piedmontese gendarmes were subsequently posted, doubles to take care of us.

The situation was not ideal, Kenyon said that “We had to sleep all together in a little dirty room, the whole place being full of Piedmontese.” Charles said of their predicament “This did not suit us at all. We were eager to join the zouaves in order to take part inf the defense of the Holy City and determined to try to get through the Italians lines.” The next morning on the 19th, the group found another driver to take them closer to Rome. They followed the Piedmontese again and overtook their rear-guard. The Italian movement was called to a halt, the group kept continuing forward until they found themselves faced to face with General Bixio again, who seemed in no enviable mood, pacing to and fro on the roadway.

Bixio, frustrated to see them again asked “Why press on so eagerly with my army?”

The group responded “Our desire to be present at the operations”

Bixio shouted back at them:

But this is a war, a war! Your place on the march is at the rear and not in the midst of my troops. You enjoy the excitement of war? It's a small matter now. Those pet lions, the Zouaves, know how to fight; arising in the streets, we will place them between two fires! Their destruction is inevitable, as their presence in Rome is a menace and a danger to Italian patriots.

The persistence of the group however, caused General Bixio to acquis to their demands. He granted them permission to continue as far as his advanced post which was about two miles in front of them. He warned them to not pass through the lines, doing so would be out their own peril. The group continued, upon reaching the advanced line, a gathering of dragoons and bersaglieri posted near a ruined osteria told them to stop. The officer in command of the detachment of troops told the group that they should remain here and not proceed any further. Which O'Clery described as “another way of saying we were under arrest.”

This obstacle did not deter the small group of Papal Zouaves. Determined to carry on, they conceived a plan to fool the Italian soldiers holding them captive and escape. They asked the officers of the Italian detachment if they could get a better sight of Rome by climbing the heights just above the road. They left behind their luggage in the carriage with the exception of the satchel with papers and letters, in an effort to persuade the soldiers that they would be right back. The Italians bought the ruse, they made no objections and allowed the group to climb to the top, once there, Tracey, O'Clery, Kenyon, and Hermans discussed their next step:

Here we held a council in full view of the Piedmontese; the dragoons, with the exception of those acting as lookouts, were lounging in the shade, their horses picketed close by, our coachman was consoling himself with some water, the only thing to be had. Both my friends, Messrs. Tracey and Kenyon, through fully aware that the seizure of the dispatches would necessarily involve their fate in mine if captured, like true Zouaves unhesitatingly declared their readiness to accompany me at all hazards. At that moment, catching a glimpse of St. Peter's glorious dome in the distance, we could no longer brook delay, as we were only twelve miles from the Eternal City, and had given no parole to the Piedmontese. Turning the crest on the hill we descended rapidly and keeping along the valley, made a detour to avoid the road, as the dragoons cannot easily follow across country. Soon we left Bixio's army far behind us. Mile after mile we hurry on gaining fresh impulse at every step, as we see St. Peter's more and more clearly defined, towering in all its majesty against the sky. Not a sound disturbs the awful stillness which reigns around; it would indeed seem as if the world stood still before the commission of the dreadful crime on the morrow! But it is the calm which portends the storm; ere many hours elapse the cannonade will thunder far across the Campagne and make the shepherds cower in their huts on the slopes of the hills. On and on we press with an ardor fast becoming a fever of excitement, to reach the goal of our hopes, utterly regardless of the danger o falling in with Cadorna's cavalry scouts endeavoring to cut off communications with the devoted city.

After hours of travel, the group finally reached the Eternal City, arriving around 4 p.m., well ahead of the Italian forces. “Deo Gratias,” thought Kenyon “the yellow and white flag was still waving.” The Zouaves were enthusiastic that some of their former comrades had returned to help in the defense. They were quickly taken into the city. O'Clery summed up their feelings “Our hearts were full of gratitude for the privilege so signally accorded to us of being able to join our comrades before the assault.” Hermans at this point separated from the group. He wanted to remain just outside the city in order to observe the fight so he could report to his contacts in the London papers.

Once inside O'Clery handed off the papers himself to Cardinal Antonelli at the Vatican and the other papers he gave to Colonel Allet at the Zouave head-quarters on the Pincio. He was very happy to see some of his former Zouaves. O'Clery wrote that:

Our brave old commander welcomed us back to the corps with all that kindness of manner which has so endeared him to hearts of the Zouaves. As no news had reached the city for several days we reported to the affair at Civita Vecchia, the advance of Bixio's army, and the certainty of an attack on Rome next morning.

Tracey, Kenyon, and O'clery joined over 8,500 Papal soldiers who had made it inside the city during the general withdraw. The city was now surrounded by over 60,000 Italian soldiers, including a large contingent of Red Shirts who came to wreak havoc on the city.

Aftermath

For most of the Papal Zouaves, the fight was over. However, the majority of the French Papal Zouaves continued fighting with the unit as they reorganized under the new name the Volunteers of the West. The Volunteers fought to defend France during the remainder of the Franco-Prussian war. They are most well known for their bravery at the battle of Loigny Patay. On December 2, 1870 General de Sonis and Colonel de Charette led the unit in a 300-man charge against the Bavarians. They initially had the upper hand; however, no other French forces came to reinforce them. Upon realizing their true number, the Bavarians pushed them back. Out of the 300 in the charge, 218 died. Their flag had the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus with the words, “Heart of Jesus save France.” After the war the unit was disbanded. Additionally, in 1873, many Papal Zouave veterans joined the Carlist Zouave Battalion under former Papal Zouave Prince Alfonso de Bourbon during the Third Carlist War. Many of the Papal Zouaves held onto hope that one day they would put on their uniform again and retake the Holy City for their beloved Pope. Unfortunately, these events never came to pass. The Papal Zouaves continued their fight against the Revolution in other ways. Such as through missionary efforts, writing in Catholic publications, participating in government, and starting Catholic businesses.