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Rh and auspicious. We have, indeed, long pondered in our mind, as was known to many of our venerable brethren, as occasion needed, a purpose which, so soon as the opportunity we desire shall come, we trust to be able to effect, namely, that we may hold a Sacred Œcumenical and General Council of the bishops of the whole world, in which, after united counsels and labours together, the necessary and healing remedies, by God's help, may be applied to the many evils which the Church is suffering. From this, as we greatly hope, it will come to pass that the light of Catholic truth may diffuse its saving illumination in the darkness by which the minds of men are enveloped, so that they may see and press onwards, by the grace of God, in the true path of salvation and of justice. From this, also, it will come to pass that the Church, like a conquering army set in array, may repel the hostile assaults of adversaries, break their power, and triumphing over them, propagate and spread more widely the kingdom of Jesus Christ on earth.'

We have here, in his own words, the reasons of this greatest act of Pontifical government over the Church; namely, the union of counsels and labours to find and apply remedies to the evils of our time; to manifest more luminously to those who are in darkness the light of truth; to consolidate and concentrate more and more closely the force and power of the Church, for the twofold work of breaking the power of its adversaries, and of spreading far and wide the kingdom of Jesus Christ upon earth.