Eventually, the patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops, from all regions of the world, who took part in this Council, were seven hundred and four.
Rome had seen very plainly that Science was not only rapidly undermining the dogmas of the papacy, but was gathering great political power.

She recognized that all over Europe there was a fast-spreading secession among persons of education, and that its true focus was North Germany.
She looked, therefore, with deep interest on the Prusso-Austrian War, giving to Austria whatever encouragement she could.

The battle of Sadowa was a bitter disappointment to her.
With satisfaction again she looked upon the breaking out of the Franco-Prussian War, not doubting that its issue would be favorable to France, and therefore favorable to her.

Here, again, she was doomed to disappointment at Sedan.
Having now no further hope, for many years to come, from external war, she resolved to see what could be done by internal insurrection, and the present movement in the German Empire is the result of her machinations.
Had Austria or had France succeeded, Protestantism would have been overthrown along with Prussia.
But, while these military movements were being carried on, a movement of a different, an intellectual kind, was engaged in.

Its principle was, to restore the worn-out mediaeval doctrines and practices, carrying them to an extreme, no matter what the consequences might be.
ENCYCLICAL LETTER AND SYLLABUS.