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The conclave that elected Gregory XVI lasted almost two months and was divided between the zelanti (zealots) who stood for uncompromising opposition to modern ideas, and others more moderate. The zelanti had Gregory XVI elected.

His opposition to new ideas is demonstrated by the statement, "The idea that defect, shadow, or other misfortune could ever cause the church to stand in need of restoration or renewal is hereby condemned as obviously absurd." He referred to the false ideas that the "shameless lovers of liberty" spread - freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and separation of church and state.

Pope Gregory opposed innovations such as gas lighting and railways, believing that they would promote commerce and increase the power of the bourgeoisie, leading to demands for liberal reforms which would undermine the monarchical power of the Pope over central Italy. He banned railways in the Papal States, calling them chemins d'enfer ('road to hell', a play on the French for railroad, chemin de fer).

On the plus side, Pope Gregory XVI reversed centuries of papal support for or acquience in the Atlantic slave trade, in 1839 condemning it as inhumane. By this time, the Atlantic slave trade was coming to a close in any case.

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11y ago

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