WI Pius IX had taken political asylum in England?

So. The Roman Question. Apparently the Pope asked Odo Russell whether he could be granted political asylum in England if the need arose to leave Rome.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Question#Plans_to_leave_Rome

So what if the troops had barged in, what if he'd actually taken help from England? What would be the effects on the Papal States/Holy See, and what would most of England think of it? Also, what would Europe think of it?

It's something I'm rather curious about, so... any thoughts?
 
So. The Roman Question. Apparently the Pope asked Odo Russell whether he could be granted political asylum in England if the need arose to leave Rome.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Question#Plans_to_leave_Rome

So what if the troops had barged in, what if he'd actually taken help from England? What would be the effects on the Papal States/Holy See, and what would most of England think of it? Also, what would Europe think of it?

It's something I'm rather curious about, so... any thoughts?
Wow. The Pope, fleeing to heretical England!? I honestly dont see why he would. Spain would, i would have thought, been a far more likely choice.

Going to England would surely invite the election of an antipope, i would think.
 
Wow. The Pope, fleeing to heretical England!? I honestly dont see why he would. Spain would, i would have thought, been a far more likely choice.

Going to England would surely invite the election of an antipope, i would think.

Because in a grand bit of cosmic irony, by the late 19th century the Pope was massively unpopular with pretty much everyone, and those "heretical" Englishmen arguably hated him less than a large chunk of the inhabitants of most Catholic nations.
 
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