APPENDIX. The Authority of Popes and General Councils (p. 190). THE theory of the definite superiority of the pope to a General Council only grew very slowly. I am not aware of any instance of its being formally and authoritatively asserted before the year 1518, when Leo X, in his Bull Pastor Aeternus, declared that "the pope has full and unlimited authority over councils : he can at his good pleasure summon, remove, or dissolve them 1." It would be impossible to trace the growth of the theory in detail here. But in addition to what has been said already, two points may be added: 1. When Alexander III. summoned the Lateran Council of 1179, he did so expressly in order that, in accordance with old custom, that should be done by many which could not well be done by an individual 2. 1 The Bull is quoted, e.g. in Denzinger, Enchiridion, p. 170. 2 Letter of Alexander III. to the Bishops of Tuscany (Mansi, vol. XXII, col. 212): ‘de diversis partibus personas 2. Melchior Canus, in discussing the nature of a council, strenuously upholds the right of the bishops to be true judges in it, and not merely assessors to the pope1. And in this he fairly represents the opinion of his day. And, as is well known, this is more or less the position of the great Gallican writers 2. occlesiasticas decrevimus evocandas, quarum praesentia et consilio, quae fuerunt salubria statuantur; et quod bonum, secundum consuetudinem antiquorum patrum, provideatur, et firmetur a multis. Quod si particulariter fieret, non facile posset plenum robur habere.' 1 Melchior Canus, de Locis Theologicis, lib. v, cap. 5, no 2. This right is characteristically explained away by Bal lerini, De Potestate Summorum Pontificorum, &c. ii. § 3. 2 De Marca, de Concord. lib. v, capp. 8-12. OXFORD: HORACE HART PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY The Church historical Society. President:-The Rt. Reverend M. CreighTON, D.D., LORD BISHOP OF PETERBOROUGH. Roman Claims to Supremacy (V). BY THE REV. A. ROBERTSON, D.D., PRINCIPAL OF BISHOP HATFIELD'S HALL, DURHAM. PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE TRACT COMMITTEE. LONDON: SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, W.C.; 43, QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, E.C. BRIGHTON: 129, NORTH STREET. NEW YORK: E. & J. B. YOUNG & CO. |