By their own unaided efforts neither individuals nor nations can attain the last end ot man on this earth—union with God. Now the duty of governments is twofold : to make every provision that their subjects may lead good and virtuous lives, and to prepare them for their eternal destiny. Hence it is one of their chief tasks to see that religion should hold its rightful place in national life. The task directly committed by God to the rulers of nations is to provide for the physical and temporal welfare of the citizens; to promote their spiritual and eternal welfare is the indirect task of governments, in so far as they are bound to assist the Church in carrying out her work in the Mate. The Church comes to terms with every form of government or political institution, provided that ‘the rights of God and of conscience are safeguarded ‘(Pius XI). It is the mission of the Church of God to teach the nations the principles of religious and moral life, to inculcate and to ensure them. For this is the field entrusted to her for cultivation by Christ, the absolute ruler in the kingdom of truth and love. Nothing contributes so effectively to the welfare of nations as loyal co-operation between ecclesiastical and civil authorities, whose distinctive spheres of action, with due regard to the special circumstances prevailing in each country, have been made to harmonies. In this the Church has to accomplish a task as responsible as it is exalted.

The Faith transcends all differences in national character. In ancient times the nations fashioned their religions according to their own lights; by human means they established national religions, which often enough lead to self-worship. Their cult sprang from their own narrow conceptions, and was not inspired by God.