Cambridge, found a home in Döllinger's house at Munich.
The theological principles of Ignatius von Döllinger could scarcely be in the year 1868 unknown in Rome. For five-and-forty years he had been a teacher in Ecclesiastical History, and his reputation was European. But he was not invited to take any part in the theological preparations for the Vatican Council. An Italian writer[1] indeed assures us that
"in the number of those whom the Pope intended to invite was, contrary to the advice of some, the celebrated historian Dóllinger. … But the Sovereign Pontiff was informed, on the authority of statements perhaps somewhat inexact, that Döllinger would refuse the invitation; and accordingly Pius IX. did not give effect to his intention."
The explanation is unconvincing and superfluous. The presence of Döllinger on a theological commission in Rome at the Pope's request is scarcely thinkable. There were few learned members of the Roman Communion whom Pius IX. would welcome less in Rome. But the minority earnestly desired his presence.[2] Cardinal Schwarzenberg wrote to Antonelli that the consulting theologians selected for the preparatory commissions were not, so far as Germany was concerned, up to the necessary level. Doubtless their merits were considerable, but their learning was small. They were not qualified to do justice to the difficult problems which would have to be submitted to them. They were chosen, so far as the dogmatic section was concerned, exclusively from one School. The Universities of Munich, Bonn, Tübingen, Fribourg, included many eminent men, who were, however,
