The Ralliement refers to the policy adopted by some Catholics in France to support the French Third Republic following the publication of the papal encyclical Au milieu des sollicitudes on February 16, 1892, by Pope Leo XIII. Supporters of this position were called the Ralliés (Rallying Catholics).
According to Bruno Dumons, "The emergence of a more moderate Republic encouraged Catholics to embrace reconciliation. By endorsing openness, Roman and episcopal authorities fostered initiatives attempting a conservative Catholic right-wing experiment, which renounced monarchy and accepted republican institutions."
