The main outlines of dogma and discipline were quickly drawn.

Numerous details were referred to the Pope for definition.

The Council terminated in December with an act of submission, which placed all its decrees at the pleasure of the Papal sanction.

Pius was wise enough to pass and ratify the decrees of the Tridentine fathers by a Bull dated on December 26, 1563, reserving to the Papal sovereign the sole right of interpreting them in doubtful or disputed cases.

This he could well afford to do; for not an article had been penned without his concurrence, and not a stipulation had been made without a previous understanding with the Catholic powers.