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Emperor Franz Joseph Did Not Want to Be More Catholic Than Pope Letters Reveal

September 15, 1924
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Interesting private letters of Franz Joseph, the late Emperor of the former Austria-Hungarian Empire, throwing light upon the relation of Franz Joseph to the Jews, were published too day.

One of the published letters relates the following incident. During a table conversation at the court of Franz.

Joseph, the Emperor praised the generosity of a certain Jewish family in Vienna who had donated a large sum of money for the purpose of building a hospital. Prince Waldemar of Denmark asked with astonishment, “Your Majesty, I hope you are not a philosemite?” The old Emperor in reply smilingly stated,” Indeed I am. The Pope, too, protected the Jews, and I do not wish to be more papal than the pope.

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