His last important controversy was his defense of the Holy See in its deposition of the French bishops, which he said had been necessitated by the new order of things in France established by the Concordat of 1801.
Hans sista stora kontrovers var ett försvar av Heliga stolens avsättande av de franska biskoparna, vilket han menade hade varit nödvändigt med anledning av den nya ordning som konkordatet 1801 lade grunden till.