Commentary Par XXVII 61-63

A first prophetic utterance, leading into the fuller prophecy at the end of the canto ([Par XXVII 142-148]): Providence, which sided with Scipio (in 202 B.C. at the battle of Zama) to maintain Rome's glory in the world (and it is clear that the text refers to imperial, and not ecclesiastical, Rome), will soon act to set things straight, as Peter conceives (for the force of this verb, see C.Inf.II.7-9, C.Inf.XXXII.1-9, and C.Purg.XXIX.37-42).

For Dante's lofty sense of Scipio, see Hollander and Rossi (Holl.1986.1), pp. 65-69.  For his persistent presence in Convivio (IV.v), Monarchia (II.ix), and Commedia (Inf. XXXI, Purg. XXIX, Par. VI, and here), see the table (in 'Dante’s Republican Treasury,' p. 75), also listing the various appearances of the dozen and a half republican heroes referred to in Dante's works.

It is surely striking that, at the climax of his antipapal outburst, he turns to a great political figure and not to a religious one.  For an earlier and more developed presentation of this view, see Scott (Scot.1977.1), pp. 216-20.  A similar political frame of reference may inform Beatrice's prophecy of the fortuna ([Par XXVII 145]) at the end of the canto.