In the original Christian theory the whole world should now be one vast republic, in which all Christians should call each other brothers, and support each other in worldly as well as spiritual matters.

Within this should exist the smaller republic of the hierarchy, by common consent,--an elective body, recruiting its numbers from the larger, as it does now; choosing its head, the sovereign Pontiff, as it does now, to be the head of both Church and State; eminently fitted for that position, for the very simple reason that in a community organised and maintained upon such principles, in which, by virtue of the real and universal love of religion, the best men would find their way into the Church, and would ultimately find their way to the papal throne." "Your Eminence states the case very convincingly," answered Gouache.

"But why has the larger republic, which was to contain the smaller one, ceased to exist?
or rather, why did it never come into existence ?" "Because man has not yet fulfilled his part in the great contract.

The matter lies in a nutshell.

The men who enter the Church are sufficiently intelligent and well educated to appreciate the advantages of Christian democracy, fellowship, solidarity, and brotherly love.