The history of the popes, from the close of the middle ages : drawn ...

xlvi INTRODUCTION.
original documents must come to the conclusion that this
Pope was one of those great spirits to whom their own interests
are as nothing, but the object for which they are striving is
all in all. In his eyes, his temporal sovereignty was of very
secondary importance in comparison with his office of supreme
pastor of the Church. The renewal of all the faithful in Christ
was the only aim he followed ;
all worldly and political inter-
ests were far from his mind, and the salvation of souls alone
filled his heart. Again and again he repeated that he felt
responsible before God for the souls of the whole world, and
that he must therefore keep in view nothing but the leading
back of those who were straying from the truth, the conversion
of sinners, and the reformation of the clergy. ^
Pius v., hke the great Popes of the golden age of medieval
days, presented to the world the noble spectacle of the suc-
cessor of St. Peter, amid the appalling dangers threatening
them from without, watching over the eternal interests of
the new converts in distant lands with the same care as he
devoted to the oppressed Catholics in the different countries
of Europe. He was indefatigable in sending to the bishops
of the Old as well as the New World, apostolic words of
admonition and encouragement, in consoling the missionaries
as far off as in Abyssinia, and in caring for the newly converted
Moors in Spain, as carefully as he looked after the needs of
oriental lands. His pastoral love embraced without distinction
all the peoples of Europe : Romans and Germans, as well as
Slavs. From the height of Peter's throne, he cast the eye of
an unwearying shepherd over the whole world, and nothing
of importance escaped his sight. Wherever he perceived any
deviation from doctrine or ecclesiastical discipline, he inter-
vened to warn or to reprimand, imposing everywhere the
strictest standard, and vigorously combating every infringement
of ecclesiastical liberty. He greatly valued Philip II.
as a supporter of the Church, but that did not prevent him from
opposing the national church policy of that egotistical ruler,
iSee the letter of Pius V. to Philip II. of January 8, 1567, in
the Corresp. dipl., ed. Serrano, II., 7, Madrid, 1914.