The Papal States are a theocracy in…

The Papal States are a theocracy in which the Catholic Church and Catholics have more rights than members of other religions.

Pope Pius IX's policies have become increasingly reactionary over time: at the beginning of his pontificate, together with other liberal measures, Pius had opened the Jewish ghetto in Rome.

After being returned by French troops from his exile in April 1850, during which the Roman Republic had issued sharp anti-church measures, the Pope issues a series of anti-liberal measures, including re-instituting the ghetto.

Financial administration in the Papal States under Pius IX is increasingly put in the hands of laymen.

The budget and financial administration in the Papal States had long been subject to criticism even before Pius IX.

In 1850, he creates a government finance body ("congregation") consisting of four laymen with finance background for the twenty provinces.