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Rh any one of perverse opinions ever sat in it, but it has preserved the Apostolic grace inviolate.' S. Gelasius, therefore, only expressed what the whole Church believed, when he declared that 'the See of Peter the Apostle is first, the Roman Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.'

It must here be observed that the prerogative of Peter is the cause, the fidelity of the Roman Church the effect.

These are the principles declared by the Sovereign Pontiff in his Allocution of June 26, in which he announced his intention to convoke, at some future time not yet determined, a General Council. In that allocution he dwelt upon the strength which the bishops derive from Rome. He said: 'But if the general good of the faithful be considered, what, venerable brethren, can be more timely and wholesome for Catholic nations, in order to increase their obedience towards us and the Apostolic See, than that they should see how highly the sanctity and the rights of Catholic unity are prized by their pastors, and should behold them, for that cause, traversing great distances of sea and land, deterred by no difficulties from hastening to the Roman See, that they may pay reverence in the person of our humility to the successor of Peter and the Vicar of Christ on earth? For by this authority of example, far better