Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara

As Edgardo's parents tried to regain their kidnapped son, they found powerful and influential allies. The international press could not get enough of the story. Leading European Jews, with fantastic international connections, did their best to help.

Napoleon III, whose French troops maintained order in the Papal States by agreement with the Catholic Church, was outraged. Even he was unable to persuade the Pope - who by this time had personally taken an active interest in Edgardo - to release the child.

Marianna was finally able to see her son in November, nearly five months after the kidnapping. The meetings in Rome, however, were very controlled.  She was never allowed to be alone with her young son.

Trying to combat the rising tide of international protest against the Church's action, the Jesuit journal, Civilta Cattolica, published an account of the Mortaras' efforts to free their son. The journal wanted its readers to believe that Edgardo's parents were motivated more by hostility against the Catholic Church than their desire to regain custody of their child. It is impossible to ponder the Church's utter lack of sensitivity to the plight of the Mortara family.

Even Sir Moses Montefiore (a world-famous Jew who was also a British knight and member of Parliament) traveled to Rome (with his wife Judith) to intercede for Edgardo's family. A wealthy philanthropist, Sir Moses thought he would be successful where others had failed. He, too, failed to win Edgardo's release.

By this time, more than eight months had passed since Edgardo had been taken from his home. And ... by this time ... the young Jewish boy had completed his religious training at the Catechumens.