Urbanitatis Veteris §1

¹ Greece, the adornment of ancient civilization and the mother of all the arts,even after so many misfortunes in its affairs and such great variety in itsfortunes, has nevertheless in no way grown old in the memory and admiration ofmen. Indeed no one is so uncivilized as not to be moved by reflecting on itsgreatness and glory. In Our case there resides in Our spirit not only aremembrance joined with admiration but a real love, and that too from a longtime back. From Our youth We have ever admired Ionian and Attic literature andespecially that science concerned with the search for the truth in which theoutstanding philosophers of your nation have played such an influential rolethat the human mind does not seem to have been able to progress any further bythe light of nature alone. How much We value this wisdom of the Greeks issufficiently clear from the diligent and manifold solicitude exercised from thehigh office of Our Pontificate in restoring and making known the philosophy ofthe Angelic Doctor. For if those whose training and teaching have been followedin acquiring wisdom rightly receive a large part of the glory due wise men, Wejudge that your Aristotle certainly has received honor from the fact that Wehave honored blessed Thomas Aquinas, easily the most outstanding of thedisciples and great followers of Aristotle.