blessed Agatho, Pope of the ancient Rome; and another suggestion made by the Council, subject to him, and following closely the things contained in it, we so judge, profess, and believe,' &c. Domitius, Bishop of Prusa, declared that the 'suggestions of our Father Agatho were to be received as dictated by the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of the holy and blessed Prince of the Apostles, Peter.'[1] Finally, the emperor, writing to a synod of Western bishops, declares that all the Fathers of the Council were of one faith both in mind and in speech, and venerated the letter of Agatho 'as the voice of the Divine Peter himself.'[2]
Such is the evidence of the first six General Councils, before what is called the division of the East and West. It is not necessary, and it is not now possible, to descend lower in the series; but all acknowledge that in proportion as we advance, the evidence of the prerogatives of the Roman Pontiffs is more explicitly and undeniably found.[3] It is to be here
- ↑ Orsi De Rom. Pontif. Auct. tom. i. P. i. p. 410, 412.
- ↑ Ibid. p. 413.
- ↑ The three following Councils may be given as examples.
'Ipsa quoque Sancta Romana Ecclesia Summum Principatum super universam Ecclesiam obtinet, quem se ab ipso Domino in Beato Petro, cujus Romanus Pontifex est successor, cum potestatis plenitudine recepisse recognoscit; sic, si quæ de Fide subortæ fuerint quæstiones, suo debent judicio definiri.'—Concil. Lugd. Œcum. II.
'Definimus, Romanum Pontificem in universum Orbem habere Primatum, et successorem esse Petri, totiusque Ecclesiæ Caput, et Christianorum Patrem ac Doctorem existere: et ipsi in Beato
