We may believe that the romance of a crusade among the infidels of Syria had already begun to fade from the imagination of the founder, in whose career nothing is more striking than his gradual abandonment of visionary for tangible ends, and his progressive substitution of real for shadowy objects of ambition.
Loyola's first contact with Italian society during this residence in Venice exercised decisive influence over his plans.

He seems to have perceived with the acute scent of an eagle that here lay the quarry he had sought so long.

Italy, the fountain-head of intellectual enlightenment for Europe, was the realm which he must win.

Italy alone offered the fulcrum needed by his firm and limitless desire of domination over souls.

It was with Caraffa and the Theatines that Ignatius obtained a home.