"Great Nations of Europe" irony

"he met some friendly Indians whom the Church told him were gay"
This line is Ironic because it involves the Church, of all institutions, basically lying. Indians weren't gay and the Church never knew that. 

"the great nations of Europe in the 16th century"
This line is not ironic, because it introduces the idea that the great nations of Europe in the 16th century, are great. This was true because as we know they were all superior to the U.S. before the U.S. was it's own country.