Beatrice and Cacciaguida exchange a smile — Dante observes it but cannot follow it, as he observes the smile of a woman without hearing the words that prompted it. The vision of divine communication between souls exceeds his grasp; he can only watch its beauty. Cacciaguida then directs Dante's gaze along the arms of the great Cross and names the souls blazing on it as he says each name — each one flashing brighter at the mention of its own glory: Joshua, Judas Maccabeus, Charlemagne, Roland, William of Orange, Renouard the giant, Godfrey of Bouillon (the first Crusader king of Jerusalem), Robert Guiscard the Norman warrior. The warriors of faith — those who fought with the sword for the defense and expansion of Christendom — blaze like the great stars of the cross.
The cross blazes and they rise. They enter Jupiter — the largest and brightest natural sphere, blazing silver-white, like silver heated to the point where it begins to show gold. Souls within it form letters — actual Latin letters, spelling out the first verse of the Book of Wisdom: DILIGITE IUSTITIAM QUI IUDICATIS TERRAM — "Love justice, you who judge the earth." The letters form and reform as the souls move; the message is the divine call to every earthly ruler. The final letter, M, transforms into more: the eagle of Rome forms from the souls gathering around it.