The replacement of Cardinal Tommaso Bernetti by Cardinal Luigi Lambruschini in 1836 does not mend matters between conservatives and liberal in central Italy.

Pope Gregory and Lambruschini oppose basic technological innovations such as gas lighting and railways, believing that they will promote commerce and increase the power of the bourgeoisie, leading to demands for liberal reforms that would undermine the monarchical power of the Pope over central Italy.

Gregory in fact bans railways in the Papal States, calling them chemins d'enfer (literally "ways of hell," a play on the French for railroad, chemin de fer, literally "iron road").