of the Pope, but was forced upon him; and that if he is willing to convene it, he is the only person in Rome that is so; that Rome hates Councils, and that Councils are fatal to Rome; that the future General Council is a reaction against excessive pretensions, and will impose limits on them; that it will confirm the past acts of Popes on Gallican principles, and review or modify the Encyclical and Syllabus of 1864.
For the first three hundred years no General Council ever met: for the last three hundred no General Council has been convened. In the eighteen centuries of the Church only eighteen General Councils have been held. It is clear, therefore, as Bellarmin teaches, that though General Councils are useful, and sometimes necessary for particular times, they are not necessary to the office of the Church. The Church is not infallible in virtue of General Councils, but General Councils are infallible in virtue of the infallibility of the Church. The whole Church, both the Ecclesia Docens and the Ecclesia Discens, diffused throughout the world, is infallible at all times. The Church discharges its office as witness, judge, and teacher always, and in all places. The See of Peter and the episcopate diffused throughout the world are so assisted by the perpetual presence of the Spirit of truth that they can never err as witness, judge, or teacher. In the three hundred years before the Council of Nice, the infallible voice of the Church sufficed for the promulgation and diffusion of the faith; in the intervals between Council and Council
