Quite recently my friend Laube brought to my notice remarks of Mme. Devrient which show me more clearly than ever that the ultra-Catholic party are scandalised by the text of my Rienzi. I have therefore at once informed Herr Hofrat Winkler of certain alterations on this point which I had long prepared. I have pointed out that the Pope in my libretto is not presented as a spiritual power upholding dogma, but as a temporal prince defending his earthly realm, and that his participation is slurred over as much as possible.
If they are determined to eliminate the word Church from my Rienzi altogether, I suppose one must turn to the German Emperor and ask him to shoulder the burden and pronounce the ban himself as an Imperial decree. Surely priests and religious processions have gone over the Dresden stage before now?
But what is the use of all this when these gentlemen will not favour me with one single direct communication! If they challenge me to it I shall certainly be able to remove every cause of offence. I have also been induced to write Herr Hofrat Winkler a series of letters for his Abendzeitung.
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 54