I am slightly unclear on Dante's depiction of the Church and it's future in the Purgatorio. Canto 31 represents the Four Cardinal Virtues as present in the best of men to prepare the way for the triumph of the Church. These virtues can be achieved within men and work to drive them to the Church, through which they can know the Divine Love of Christ (the Second Vision). Led by the Four Cardinal Virtues, Dante sees the reflection of the Griffin through the eyes of Beatrice and achieves his first revelation. The notes explain that Beatrice is a representation of the Church here, indicating that it is through the Church that one is able to achieve the first fruits of Faith by seeing as much of the nature of God as is perceivable in the first life. But in Canto 32, Dante witnesses and discusses the corruption of the Church through wealth in an extended allegory, in which a chariot (the Church), is attacked by an eagle (the Roman Empire), a fox (heresy), and a dragon (Satan). The chariot then converts into a monstrous beast covered in feathers (riches), and is ridden by a harlot (the corrupted papacy), and attended by a giant (the French Monarchy). Dante presents the evils of the rich and arrogant Church and the sins that have taken root within it. In Canto 33 Beatrice states that "man's ways, even at his best, are far from God's" (575), but the notes explain an earlier line in Latin from Beatrice to mean that "the pure in heart shall rise above the corruption of the Church to see Christ again in Heaven. More likely, Dante meant that the Church shall be purged until Christ is once more truly visible in its workings" (577). It is clear that Dante believes in the purification and reworking of the Church so that it is no longer corrupt and instead reflects Christ, but does what he has written express belief that this is possible, since men fall short in all ways? Does he believe that he stands above the Church as one who was endowed with special virtues and was capable of achieving a vision of Christ's Divine Love without the Church? But wasn't he also one who was so lost in his ways himself that the Divine powers interfered to save his soul? I'm just slightly confused on all of  the depictions of the Church and their meanings. Anyone understand this better and have any thoughts?