Editing Pope Leo XIII (section)

====Germany====

Under [[Otto von Bismarck]], the [[anti-Catholic]] ''[[Kulturkampf]]'' in [[Prussia]] led to significant restrictions on the Catholic Church in the [[German Empire]], including the [[Jesuits Law (1872)|Jesuits Law of 1872]]. During Leo's papacy, compromises were informally reached and the anti-Catholic attacks subsided.<ref>{{cite book |first=Ronald J. |last=Ross |title=The failure of Bismarck's Kulturkampf: Catholicism and state power in imperial Germany, 1871–1887 |year=1998 |location= Washington, DC |publisher= Catholic University of America Press |isbn= 978-0-81320894-7}}</ref>

The [[Centre Party (Germany)|Centre Party]] in Germany represented Catholic interests and was a force for social change. It was encouraged by Leo's support for social welfare legislation and the rights of working people. Leo's forward-looking approach encouraged [[Catholic Action]] in other European countries, where the social teachings of the church were incorporated into the agenda of Catholic parties, particularly the [[Christian democracy|Christian democratic]] parties, which became an acceptable alternative to socialist parties. Leo's social teachings were reiterated throughout the 20th century by his successors.

In his ''Memoirs'',<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ywZoAAAAMAAJ&q=kaiser+%22My+Memoirs |title=Memoirs |pages=204–207 |access-date=23 June 2013 |last1=Emperor) |first1=William I.I. (German |year=1922}}</ref> Emperor [[Wilhelm II]] discussed the "friendly, trustful relationship that existed between me and Pope Leo XIII." During Wilhelm's third visit to Leo: "It was of interest to me that the Pope said on this occasion that Germany must be the sword of the Catholic Church. I remarked that the old [[Roman Empire of the German nation]] no longer existed, and that conditions had changed. But he adhered to his words."