Vatican Council
the First Council of the Vatican, or the Nineteenth General Council, which assembled on Dec. 8, 1869. At the opening sitting 719 prelates were present, and the number rose in the following year to 764. The work done consisted of two constitutions -one, "Of the Catholic Faith," treating of the primary truths of natural religion, revelation, faith, and the connection between faith and reason; the other, "Of the Church of Christ," treating of the primacy of the Roman See, and defining the papal claims to authority over all VAUBAN Christians. The first constitution was unanimously accepted in a session of 667 prelates, and confirmed by the Pope (Pius IX.) on April 20, 1870. The second constitution led to a long discussion; on May 13 the scheme, with the added clauses on Papal Infallibility, was laid before the Council, and on July 18 the bull Pastor Æternus, containing the constitution and the definition of Papal Infallibility, was read; 525 prelates voted in favor of it, two voted against it, while several absented themselves from the public session. The degree was then confirmed by the Pope. On the same day Napoleon III. declared war against Prussia; on Sept. 20 the Italian royalists took possession of Rome, and on Oct. 20 the Pope prorogued the Council, which has never reassembled.