But this subject, he confessed, 'deals
with agencies so transcendent and mysterious, that all I shall
venture to do will be to sketch in outline what the broad and
luminous prophecies, especially of the Book of Daniel and the
Apocalypse, set forth without attempting to enter into minute
details, which can only be interpreted by the event'. While
applauding his modesty, we need follow Manning no further in his
commentary upon those broad and luminous works; except to observe
that 'the apostasy of the City of Rome from the Vicar of Christ
and its destruction by the Antichrist' was, in his opinion,
certain. Nor was he without authority for this belief. For it was
held by 'Malvenda, who writes expressly on the subject', and who,
besides, 'states as the opinion of Ribera, Gaspar Melus, Viegas,
Suarez, Bellarmine, and Bosius that Rome shall apostatise from
the faith'.
IX
THE death of Pius IX brought to Manning a last flattering
testimony of the confidence with which he was regarded at the
Court of Rome. In one of the private consultations preceding the
Conclave, a Cardinal suggested that Manning should succeed to the
Papacy. He replied that he was unfit for the position, because
it was essential for the interests of the Holy See that the next
Pope should be an Italian. The suggestion was pressed, but
Manning held firm.
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