It was
as if he assured them silently, "I speak that I do know; cease to oppose
truth; let yourselves believe." And resistance lessened before the
impersonality of the pleader.
"One of the fathers tells us that an excommunication is null when it
would usurp over citizens the right of their prince. '_By me kings reign
and princes decree justice_'--it is the word of God."
There was no need of further pauses in the quiet flow of words, for
there was no longer any resistance; the Senate and Council hung
breathless upon his speech, which answered every misgiving; they knew
that his reading of canon law had never been questioned in Rome itself;
the man spoke with immense authority. But there was no triumph in his
bearing as he tuned the atmosphere of that august assembly into absolute
harmony, conquering every discordant note--only a further lowering of
the quiet voice, which seemed to utter, unchallenged, the conclusions of
each listener.
"The Sacred Canons agree that a Pope is liable to error and fallible in
cases of special judgment.
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