I myself decreed the admissibility of laymen to all offices but one.

In order to show my sincerity, for some time I had lay ministers! I entrusted the finances to a mere accountant, the department of justice to an obscure little advocate, and that of war to a man of business who had been intendant to several Cardinals.

I admit that for the moment we have no laymen in the Ministry; but my subjects may console themselves by reflecting that the law does not prevent me from appointing them.
"In the provinces, out of eighteen prefects, I appointed three laymen.

If I afterwards substituted prelates for those three, it was because the people loudly called for the change.

Is it my fault if the people respect nothing but the ecclesiastical garb ?" This style of defence may deceive some good easy folk; but I think if I were Pope, or Secretary of State, or even a simple supporter of the Pontifical administration, I should prefer telling the plain truth.
That truth is strictly logical, it is in conformity with the principle of the Government; it emanates from the Constitution.