Showing posts with label Pope Paul III. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pope Paul III. Show all posts

Saturday 30 October 2021

“Sublimis Deus” by Pope Paul III (translated into English)

To all faithful Christians to whom this writing may come, health in Christ our Lord and the apostolic benediction.

 

The sublime God so loved the human race that He created man in such wise that he might participate, not only in the good that other creatures enjoy, but endowed him with capacity to attain to the inaccessible and invisible Supreme Good and behold it face to face; and since man, according to the testimony of the sacred scriptures, has been created to enjoy eternal life and happiness, which none may obtain save through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, it is necessary that he should possess the nature and faculties enabling him to receive that faith; and that whoever is thus endowed should be capable of receiving that same faith. Nor is it credible that any one should possess so little understanding as to desire the faith and yet be destitute of the most necessary faculty to enable him to receive it. Hence Christ, who is the Truth itself, that has never failed and can never fail, said to the preachers of the faith whom He chose for that office ‘Go ye and teach all nations.’ He said all, without exception, for all are capable of receiving the doctrines of the faith.

The enemy of the human race, who opposes all good deeds in order to bring men to destruction, beholding and envying this, invented a means never before heard of, by which he might hinder the preaching of God’s word of Salvation to the people: he inspired his satellites who, to please him, have not hesitated to publish abroad that the Indians of the West and the South, and other people of whom We have recent knowledge should be treated as dumb brutes created for our service, pretending that they are incapable of receiving the Catholic Faith.

We, who, though unworthy, exercise on earth the power of our Lord and seek with all our might to bring those sheep of His flock who are outside into the fold committed to our charge, consider, however, that the Indians are truly men and that they are not only capable of understanding the Catholic Faith but, according to our information, they desire exceedingly to receive it. Desiring to provide ample remedy for these evils, We define and declare by these Our letters, or by any translation thereof signed by any notary public and sealed with the seal of any ecclesiastical dignitary, to which the same credit shall be given as to the originals, that, notwithstanding whatever may have been or may be said to the contrary, the said Indians and all other people who may later be discovered by Christians, are by no means to be deprived of their liberty or the possession of their property, even though they be outside the faith of Jesus Christ; and that they may and should, freely and legitimately, enjoy their liberty and the possession of their property; nor should they be in any way enslaved; should the contrary happen, it shall be null and have no effect.

By virtue of Our apostolic authority We define and declare by these present letters, or by any translation thereof signed by any notary public and sealed with the seal of any ecclesiastical dignitary, which shall thus command the same obedience as the originals, that the said Indians and other peoples should be converted to the faith of Jesus Christ by preaching the word of God and by the example of good and holy living.

 

Rome, May 29, 1537.

Saturday 17 November 2018

"Pastorale Officium" by Pope Paul III (translated into Italian)


Al cardinale di Toledo (Juan Pardo de Tavera)...

Diletto figlio nostro, salute e benedizione apostolica.

     L’ufficio pastorale sulle pecore a noi concesso dal cielo, esercitiamo con solerte impegno, e siamo tanto afflitti per la loro perdita quanto gioiamo per il loro avanzamento, e non solo lodiamo le loro opere buone, ma aggiungiamo l’azione della cure apostoliche affinché ne usufruiscano più diffusamente.
     Giunse al nostro ascolto, che il carissimo nostro figlio in Cristo Carlo (I) imperatore dei Romani sempre augusto, che è anche re di Castiglia e Leon, per reprimere coloro che accesi di cupidigia, contro il genere umano rivolgono l’animo inumano, con un pubblico editto ha proibito a tutti i suoi sudditi, affinché non si presuma ridurre in servitù alcuno degli indiani occidentali o meridionali, e privarli dei loro beni.
     Noi dunque prestiamo attenzione a che gli stessi Indiani, anche se sono al di fuori del grembo della Chiesa, non siano privati o non stiano per essere privati della loro libertà o del dominio sulle loro cose, poiché sono uomini e per questo capaci di fede e di salvezza, non siano abbattuti con la servitù, ma siano invitati alla vita con la predicazione e l’esempio e cose simili.
     Noi desiderando reprimere tanto nefasti misfatti di empi di tal fatta, e affinché non siano provocati ingiurie e danni che causino una più difficile accoglienza della fede in Cristo, volenti esortare tua cautela, di cui abbiamo speciale fiducia circa la tua rettitudine, previdenza, pietà ed esperienza in queste cose, e altre cose nel Signore, con la presente ordiniamo e comandiamo affinché tu, o altro o altri, assistendo tutti i suddetti indiani con un’efficace aiuto di difesa, tutti e singoli di qualunque dignità, stato, condizione, grado ed eccellenza, incorrano ipso facto alla pena di scomunica latae sententiae se hanno fatto il contrario, dalla quale nessuno può assolvere se non noi o il romano pontefice in carica, eccetto che in punto di morte e con previa riparazione, affinché con la più grande severità tu impedisca che in nessun modo presumano di ridurre in servitù i suddetti Indiani o di spogliarli dei loro beni, e contro i disobbedienti a questa dichiarazione, incorsi in tale scomunica, tu proceda oltre, e altre cose contro i suddetti e circa le cose necessarie o in qualche modo opportune, stabilisci, ordina e disponi, secondo prudenza, e sia vista in opera la tua probità e religiosità.
     Circa costoro concediamo a te con la presente libera e piena facoltà, contro i facenti il contrario e chiunque osteggia (quanto detto).

Dato a Roma presso san Pietro, con l’anello del pescatore, 
il 29 maggio 1537, anno terzo del nostro pontificato.

Wednesday 28 December 2016

"Sublimis Deus" by Pope Paul III (Translated into French)



Le Pape Paul III, à tous les Chrétiens fidèles auxquels parviendra cet écrit, santé dans le Christ notre Seigneur et bénédiction apostolique.

                Le Dieu sublime a tant aimé le genre humain, qu'Il créa l'homme dans une telle sagesse que non seulement il puisse participer aux bienfaits dont jouissent les autres créatures, mais encore qu'il soit doté de la capacité d'atteindre le Dieu inaccessible et invisible et de le contempler face à face; et puisque l'homme, selon le témoignage des Ecritures Sacrées, a été créé pour goûter la vie éternelle et la joie, que nul ne peut atteindre et conserver qu'à travers la foi en Notre-Seigneur Jésus-Christ, il est nécessaire qu'il possède la nature et les facultés qui le rendent capable de recevoir cette foi et que quiconque est affecté de ces dons doit être capable de recevoir cette même foi.
                Ainsi, il n'est pas concevable que quiconque possède si peu d'entendement que, désirant la foi, il soit pourtant dénué de la faculté nécessaire qui lui permette de la recevoir. D'où il vient que le Christ, qui est la Vérité elle-même, qui n'a jamais failli et ne faillira jamais, a dit aux prédicateurs de la foi qu'il choisit pour cet office «Allez enseigner toutes les nations». Il a dit toutes, sans exception, car toutes sont capables de recevoir les doctrines de la foi.
                L'Ennemi du genre humain, qui s'oppose à toutes les bonnes actions en vue de mener les hommes à leur perte, voyant et enviant cela, inventa un moyen nouveau par lequel il pourrait entraver la prédication de la parole de Dieu pour le salut des peuples: Il inspira ses auxiliaires qui, pour lui plaire, n'ont pas hésité à publier à l'étranger que les Indiens de l'Occident et du Sud, et d'autres peuples dont Nous avons eu récemment connaissance, devraient être traités comme des bêtes de somme créées pour nous servir, prétendant qu'ils sont incapables de recevoir la Foi Catholique.
                Nous qui, bien qu'indigne de cet honneur, exerçons sur terre le pouvoir de Notre-Seigneur et cherchons de toutes nos forces à ramener les brebis placées au-dehors de son troupeau dans le bercail dont nous avons la charge, considérons quoi qu'il en soit, que les Indiens sont véritablement des hommes et qu'ils sont non seulement capables de comprendre la Foi Catholique, mais que, selon nos informations, ils sont très désireux de la recevoir. Souhaitant fournir à ces maux les remèdes appropriés, Nous définissons et déclarons par cette lettre apostolique, ou par toute traduction qui puisse en être signée par un notaire public et scellée du sceau de tout dignitaire ecclésiastique, à laquelle le même crédit sera donné qu'à l'original, que quoi qu'il puisse avoir été dit ou être dit de contraire, les dits Indiens et tous les autres peuples qui peuvent être plus tard découverts par les Chrétiens, ne peuvent en aucun cas être privés de leur liberté ou de la possession de leurs biens, même s'ils demeurent en dehors de la foi de Jésus-Christ; et qu'ils peuvent et devraient, librement et légitimement, jouir de la liberté et de la possession de leurs biens, et qu'ils ne devraient en aucun cas être réduits en esclavage; si cela arrivait malgré tout, cet esclavage serait considéré nul et non avenu.
                Par la vertu de notre autorité apostolique, Nous définissons et déclarons par la présente lettre, ou par toute traduction signée par un notaire public et scellée du sceau de la dignité ecclésiastique, qui imposera la même obéissance que l'original, que les dits Indiens et autres peuples soient convertis à la foi de Jésus Christ par la prédication de la parole de Dieu et par l'exemple d'une vie bonne et sainte.
                Donné à Rome, le 29 mai de l'année 1537, la troisième de Notre Pontificat.

Friday 16 December 2016

Bull of Indiction of the Sacred Oecumenical and General Council of Trent by Pope Paul III (translated into English by J. Waterworth)



PAUL, bishop, servant of the servants of God, for the future memory hereof.

At the beginning of this our pontificate, - which, not for any merits of our own, but of its own great goodness, the providence of Almighty God hath committed unto us, - already perceiving unto what troubled times, and unto how many embarrassments in almost all our affairs, our pastoral solicitude and watchfulness were called; we would fain indeed have remedied the evils wherewith the Christian commonweal had been long afflicted, and well-nigh overwhelmed; but we too, as men compassed with infirmity, felt our strength unequal to take upon us so heavy a burthen. For, whereas we saw that peace was needful to free and preserve the commonweal from the many impending dangers, we found all replete with enmities and dissensions; and, above all, the (two) princes, to whom God has entrusted well-nigh the whole direction of events, at enmity with each other. Whereas we deemed it necessary that there should be one fold and one shepherd, for the Lord's flock in order to maintain the Christian religion in its integrity, and to confirm within us the hope of heavenly things; the unity of the Christian name was rent and well-nigh torn asunder by schisms, dissensions, heresies. Whereas we could have wished to see the commonwealth safe and guarded against the arms and insidious designs of the Infidels, yet, through our transgressions and the guilt of us all, - the wrath of God assuredly hanging over our sins, - Rhodes had been lost; Hungary ravaged; war both by land and sea had been contemplated and planned against Italy, Austria, and Illyria; whilst our impious and ruthless enemy the Turk was never at rest, and looked upon our mutual enmities and dissensions as his fitting opportunity for carrying out his designs with success. Wherefore, having been, as we have said, called upon to guide and govern the bark of Peter, in so great a tempest, and in the midst of so violent an agitation of the waves of heresies, dissensions, and wars; and, not relying sufficiently on our own strength, we, first of all, cast our cares upon the Lord, that He might sustain us, and furnish our soul with firmness and strength, our understanding with prudence and wisdom. Then, recalling to mind that our predecessors, men endowed with admirable wisdom and sanctity, had often, in the extremest perils of the Christian commonweal, had recourse to ecumenical councils and general assemblies of bishops, as the best and most opportune remedy, we also fixed our mind on holding a general council; and having consulted the opinions of those princes whose consent seemed to us to be specially useful and opportune for this our project; when we found them, at that time, not averse from so holy a work, we, as our letters and records attest, indicted an ecumenical council, and a general assembly of those bishops and other Fathers whose duty it is to assist thereat, to be opened at the city of Mantua, on the tenth of the calends of June, in the year 1537 of our Lord's Incarnation, and the third of our pontificate; having an almost assured hope that, when assembled there in the name of the Lord, He, as He promised, would be in the midst of us, and, in His goodness and mercy, easily dispel, by the breath of His mouth, all the storms and dangers of the times. But, - as the enemy of mankind ever sets his snares against holy enterprises, - at the very outset, contrary to all our hopes and expectations, the city of Mantua was refused us, unless we would submit to certain conditions, - as described in other letters of ours, - which conditions were utterly alien to the institutes of our predecessors, to the state of the times, to our own dignity and liberty, that of this holy see, and of the ecclesiastical character. We were, therefore, necessitated to find another place, and to make choice of some other city; andwhereas one fit and suitable did not immediately present itself, we were obliged to prorogue the celebration of the council unto the ensuing calends of November. Meanwhile the Turk, our cruel and perpetual enemy, attacked Italy with a vast fleet; took, sacked, ravaged several cities of Apulia, and carried off numbers into captivity; whilst we, in the midst of the greatest alarm, and the general danger, were engaged in fortifying our shores, and in furnishing assistance to the neighbouring states. But not therefore did we meanwhile cease to consult with the Christian princes, and to exhort them to inform us, what, in their opinion, would be a suitable place wherein to hold the council: and whereas their opinions were various and wavering, and there seemed to be needless delay, we, with the best intentions, and, as we also think, with the most judicious prudence, fixed on Vicenza, a wealthy city granted to us by the Venetians, and which, by their valour, authority, and power, offered in a special manner both unobstructed access, and a safe and free place of residence for all. But, as too much of the time appointed had already passed away; and it was necessary to signify to all the fresh city that had been chosen; and, whereas the approaching calends of November precluded our having the opportunity of making the announcement of this change public, and winter was now near; we were again constrained to defer, by another prorogation, the time for opening the Council, to the next ensuing Spring, that is, to the next calends of May. This having been firmly resolved upon and decreed; considering, - whilst preparing ourselves, and arranging all other matters for conducting and celebrating that assembly in a proper manner under the divine assistance, - that it was a point of great importance, both as regards the celebration of the Council, and the general weal of Christendom, that the Christian princes should be united together in peace and concord; We ceased not to implore and conjure our most beloved sons in Christ, Charles, ever August, the emperor of the Romans, and Francis, the most Christian king, the two main supports and stays of the Christian name, to meet together for a conference between them and us; and, with both of them, by letters, Nuncios, and our Legates a latere selected from amongst our venerable brethren, did we very often strive to move them to lay aside their jealousies and animosities; to unite in strict alliance and holy friendship; and to succour the tottering cause of Christendom: for as it was to preserve this especially, that God had bestowed on them their power, if they neglected to do this, and directed not all their counsels to the common weal of Christians, a bitter and severe account would they have to render unto Him. They, yielding at last to our prayers, repaired to Nice; whither we also, for the cause of God and to bring about peace, undertook a long journey, though sorely unsuited to our advanced age. Meanwhile, as the time fixed for the Council, - the calends to wit of May, - drew nigh, we did not neglect to send to Vicenza three Legates a latere, - men of the greatest virtue and authority, chosen from the number of our own brethren, the cardinals of the holy Roman Church, - to open the Council; to receive the prelates as they arrived from various parts; and to transact and attend to such matters as they should deem necessary, until we, on our return from our journey and message of peace, should be able ourselves to direct everything with greater precision. We, in the mean time, applied ourselves to that holy and most necessary work, the negotiation of peace; and this with all the zeal, the affection, and the earnestness of our soul. God is our witness, on whose clemency we relied, when we exposed ourselves to the dangers of that journey at the peril of our life: our conscience is our witness, which herein, at least, cannot reproach us with having either neglected, or not sought for, an opportunity of effecting a reconciliation: the princes themselves are our witnesses, whom we so often and so earnestly conjured by our Nuncios, letters, legates, admonitions, exhortations, and by all kinds of entreaties, to lay aside their jealousies, to unite in alliance, and with combined zeal and forces to succour the Christian commonweal, which was now reduced to the greatest and most urgent danger. And witnesses too are those watchings and cares, those labours of our soul both by day and night, and those grievous solicitudes, which we have already endured to such an extent in this business and cause; and yet our councils and acts have not as yet brought about the wished-for result. For so hath it seemed good to the Lord our God, who, however, we still hope will cast a more favourable eye on our wishes. For ourselves, we, as far as in us lay, have not, indeed, herein omitted anything that was due from our pastoral office. And if there be any who interpret in any other sense our endeavours after peace, we are indeed grieved; but, in our grief, we return thanks to that Almighty God, who, as a pattern and a lesson of patience unto us, willed that His own apostles should be accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus who is our peace. However, in that our meeting and conference at Nice, though, by reason of our sins, a true and lasting peace could not be concluded between the two princes, yet was a truce for ten years agreed upon; under favour of which having our hopes, that both the sacred council might be celebrated more commodiously, and further that peace might be perfectly established by the authority of the council, we were urgent with those princes to come themselves to the council, to bring with them those of their prelates who accompanied them, and to summon the absent. They having excused themselves upon both these points, - for that it was at that time, necessary for them to return to their kingdoms, and that the prelates whom they had with them, being wearied and exhausted by the journey and its expenses, must needs refresh and recruit themselves, - exhorted us to decree yet another prorogation of the time for opening the council. And whereas we had some difficulty to yield herein, in the interim we received letters from our legates at Vicenza, announcing that, although the day for opening the council had arrived, nay had long since passed by, barely one or two prelates had repaired to Vicenza from any of the foreign nations. Upon receiving this information, seeing that the council could not, under any circumstances, be held at that time, we accorded to the said princes, that the time for celebrating the council should be deferred till next holy Easter, the feast of the Resurrection of the Lord. Of which our ordinance and prorogation, the decretal letters were given and published at Genoa, in the year of the Incarnation of our Lord, MDXXXVIII, on the fourth of the calends of July. And this delay we granted the more readily, because each of the princes promised us to send an ambassador to us at Rome; in order that those things which were necessary for the perfect re-establishment of peace, - all of which could not, on account of the shortness of the time, be completed at Nice, - might be treated of and negotiated more conveniently at Rome in our presence. And for this reason also, they both begged of us, that the negotiation of peace might precede the celebration of the council; for that, peace once established, the council itself would then be much more useful and salutary to the Christian commonweal. It was, indeed, this hope of peace, thus held out to us, that ever moved us to assent to the wishes of those princes; a hope which was greatly increased by the kindly and friendly interview between those two princes after our departure from Nice; the news of which was to us a source of very great joy, and so confirmed us in our good hope, that we believed that God, at length, had hearkened to our prayers, and had graciously received our earnest wishes for peace. The conclusion, then, of this peace was both desired and urged; and as it was the opinion not only of the two princes aforenamed, but also of our most dear son in Christ, Ferdinand, King of the Romans, that the business of the council ought not to be entered upon until after peace had been established; whilst all the parties urged upon us, by letters and their ambassadors, again to appoint a further prorogation of the time; and the most serene emperor was especially urgent, representing that he had promised those who dissent from Catholic unity, that he would interpose his mediation with us, to the end that some plan of concord might be devised, which could not be accomplished satisfactorily before his return to Germany: impelled throughout by the same desire of peace, and by the wishes of so mighty princes, and, above all, seeing that not even on the said feast of the Resurrection had any other prelates assembled at Vicenza, we, now avoiding the word prorogation, so often repeated in vain, chose rather to suspend the celebration of the general council during our own good pleasure, and that of the Apostolic See. We accordingly did so, and despatched our letters touching such suspension to each of the above-named princes, on the tenth day of June, MDXXXIX, as from the tenor thereof may be clearly seen. This necessary suspension, then, having been made by us, whilst we were looking forward to that more suitable time, and to that conclusion of peace which was later to bring both dignity and numbers to the council, and more immediate safety to the Christian commonweal; the affairs of Christendom meanwhile fell day by day into a worse state. The Hungarians, upon the death of their king, had invited the Turk; King Ferdinand had declared war against them; a part of Belgium had been incited to revolt against the most serene emperor, who, to crush that rebellion, traversed France on the most friendly and harmonious terms with the most Christian king, and with great show of mutual good will towards each other; and, having reached Belgium, thence passed into Germany, where he commenced holding diets of the princes and cities of Germany, with the view of treating of that concord of which he had spoken to us. But as there was now no longer scarcely any hope of peace, and the scheme of procuring and treating of a re-union in those diets seemed only adapted to excite greater discord, we were led to revert to our former remedy, a general council; and, by our legates, cardinals of the holy Roman Church, we proposed this to the emperor himself; and this we did especially and finally in the diet of Ratisbon, at which our beloved son, Cardinal Gaspar Contarini, of the title of St. Praxedes, acted as our legate with very great learning and integrity. For, whereas what we had previously feared now come to pass, - that by the advice of that diet we were called upon to declare that certain of the articles, maintained by the dissenters from the Church, were to be tolerated until they should be examined and decided upon by an ecumenical council; and whereas neither Christian and Catholic truth, nor our own dignity and that of the Apostolic See, would suffer us to yield this, - we chose rather to command that a proposal should be openly made, that a council should be held as soon as possible. Nor, indeed, had we ever any other sentiment or wish, but that an ecumenical and general council should be convened on the very first opportunity. For we hoped that both peace might thereby be restored to the Christian people, and to the Christian religion its integrity; yet were we wishful to hold that council with the good wishes and favour of the Christian princes. And whilst looking forward to those good wishes, whilst watching for that hidden time, for the time of thy good pleasure, 0 God, we were at last forced to the conclusion, that every time is well pleasing unto God wherein deliberations are entered upon touching holy things, and such as relate to Christian piety. Wherefore, upon beholding with the bitterest grief of soul, that the affairs of Christendom were daily hurrying on to a worse state; Hungary overwhelmed by the Turk; Germany endangered; all the other states oppressed with terror and affliction; we resolved to wait no longer for the consent of any prince, but to look solely to the will of God, and the good of the Christian commonweal. Accordingly, as we no longer had the city of Vicenza, and were desirous, in our choice of a fresh place for holding the council, to have regard both to the common welfare of Christians, and also to the troubles of the German nation; and seeing, upon several places being proposed, that they (the Germans) wished for the city of Trent, we, - though of opinion that every thing might be transacted more commodiously in Cisalpine Italy, - nevertheless yielded up our will, with paternal charity, to their demands. Accordingly, we have chosen the city of Trent as that wherein an ecumenical council is to be held on the ensuing calends of November: fixing upon that place as a convenient one whereat the bishops and prelates can assemble very easily indeed from Germany, and from the other nations bordering on Germany, and without difficulty from France, Spain, and the other remoter provinces. And in fixing the day for the council, we have had regard that there should be time both for publishing this our decree throughout the Christian nations, and for allowing all prelates an opportunity of repairing to Trent. Our motive for not prescribing that a whole year should expire before changing the place of the council, - as by certain constitutions has been aforetime regulated, - was this, that we were unwilling that our hope should be any longer delayed of applying some remedy to the Christian commonwealth, suffering as it is under so many disasters and calamities. And yet we observe the times; we acknowledge the difficulties. We know that what may be looked for from our councils is a matter of uncertainty. But, seeing that it is written, commit thy way to the Lord, and trust in him, and he will do it, we have resolved rather to trust in the clemency and mercy of God, than to distrust our own weakness. For, upon engaging in good works, it often happens, that what human councils fail in, the divine power accomplishes. Wherefore, relying and resting on the authority of that Almighty God, Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost, and on the authority of His blessed apostles, Peter and Paul, (an authority) which we also exercise on earth; with the advice also and assent of our venerable brethren, the cardinals of the holy Roman Church; after having removed and annulled, as by these presents we do remove and annul, the suspension aforenamed, we indict, announce, convoke, appoint, and decree a sacred, ecumenical and general council, - to be opened on the ensuing calends of November of the present year, MDXLII, from the Incarnation of the Lord, - in the city of Trent, a place commodious, free, and convenient for all nations; and to be there prosecuted, concluded, and completed, with God's help, to His glory and praise, and the welfare of the whole Christian people; requiring, exhorting, admonishing all, of every country, as well our venerable brethren the patriarchs, archbishops, bishops, and our beloved sons the abbots, as also all others soever, unto whom, by right or privilege, the power has been granted of sitting in general councils, and of delivering their sentiments therein; enjoining moreover, and strictly commanding them, by virtue of the oath which they have taken to us and to this holy See, and in virtue of holy obedience, and under the other pains, which, by law or custom, are usually passed and proposed in the celebration of councils, against those who do not attend, that they are, undoubtedly to repair to and to be present themselves in person at this sacred council - unless they shall happen to be hindered by some just impediment, of which, however, they shall be obliged to furnish proof - or at all events by their own lawful deputies and proctors. And we also beseech the aforenamed emperor, and the most Christian king, as also the other kings, dukes, and princes, whose presence, now if ever, would be of especial advantage to the most holy faith of Christ, and of all Christians; conjuring them by the bowels of the mercy of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ, - the truth of whose faith, and whose religion are now so sorely assailed both from within and without, - that, if they would have the Christian commonweal safe, if they feel themselves bound and obliged, by the Lord's great benefits towards them, they abandon not His own cause and interests; and come themselves to the celebration of the sacred council, where their piety and virtue would be greatly conducive to the common good, to their own welfare, and that of others, both in time and eternity. But if, which we hope may not be the case, they shall be unable to come in person, let them at least send, with an authoritative commission, as their ambassadors, men of weight, who may each in the council represent the person of his prince with prudence and dignity. But above all, let this - which is a thing very easy on their parts - be their care, that, from their respective kingdoms and provinces, the bishops and prelates set forth without tergiversation and delay; a request which God Himself, and we, have a right to obtain from the prelates and princes of Germany in a special manner; for as it is principally on their account, and at their instance, that the council has been indicted and convoked, and in the very city which they desired, let them not think it burthensome to celebrate and adorn it with the presence of their whole body. That thus, - with God going before us in our deliberations, and holding before our minds the light of His own wisdom and truth, - we may, in the said sacred ecumenical council, in a better and more commodious manner, treat of, and, with the charity of all conspiring to one end, deliberate and discuss, execute and bring to the desired issue, speedily and happily, whatsoever appertains to the integrity and truth of the Christian religion; the restoration of good and the correction of evil manners; the peace, unity, and concord both of Christian princes and peoples; and whatsoever is needful for repelling those assaults of barbarians and infidels, with which they seek the overthrow of all Christendom. And that this our letter, and the contents thereof, may come to the knowledge of all whom it concerns, and that no one may plead as an excuse ignorance thereof, especially also as there may not perhaps be free access to all, unto whom our letter ought to be individually communicated; we will and ordain, that in the Vatican Basilica of the prince of the apostles, and in the Lateran Church, at the time when the multitude of the people is wont to assemble there to hear the divine service, it be publicly read in a loud voice by officers of our court, or by certain public notaries; and, after having been read, be affixed to the doors of the said churches, also to the gates of the apostolic Chancery, and to the usual place in the Campo di Fiore, where it shall for some time hang exposed to be read and seen by all; and, when removed thence, copies thereof shall still remain affixed in the same places. For we will that, by being thus read, published, and affixed, the letter aforesaid shall oblige and bind, after the interval of two months from the day of being published and affixed, all and each of those whom it includes, even as if it had been communicated and read to them in person. And we ordain and decree, that an unhesitating and undoubting faith be given to copies thereof written, or subscribed, by the hand of a public notary, and guaranteed by the seal of some ecclesiastic constituted in authority. Wherefore, let no one infringe this our letter of indiction, announcement, convocation, statute, decree, mandate, precept, and prayer, or with rash daring go contrary thereunto. But if any one shall presume to attempt this, let him know that he will incur the indignation of Almighty God, and of His blessed apostles Peter and Paul. Given at Rome, at Saint Peter's, in the year MDXLII of the Lord's Incarnation, on the eleventh of the calends of June, in the eighth year of our pontificate.

Blosius.

Jer. Dand.

Tuesday 13 December 2016

"Veritas Ipsa", letter from Pope Paul III to cardinal Juan Pardo de Tavera, archebishop of Toledo (translated into French)



La Vérité elle-même, qui ne peut ni tromper ni se tromper, a dit clairement lorsqu'elle destinait les prédicateurs de la foi au ministère de la parole: “Allez enseigner toutes les nations”. Elle a dit toutes, sans exception, puisque tous les hommes sont capables de recevoir l'enseignement de la foi. Ce que voyant, le jaloux adversaire du genre humain, toujours hostile aux œuvres humaines afin de les détruire, a découvert une nouvelle manière d'empêcher que la parole de Dieu soit annoncée, pour leur salut, aux nations. Il a poussé certains de ses suppôts, avides de satisfaire leur cupidité, à déclarer publiquement que les habitants des Indes occidentales et méridionales, et d'autres peuples encore qui sont parvenus à notre connaissance ces temps-ci, devaient être utilisés pour notre service, comme des bêtes brutes, sous prétexte qu'ils ne connaissent pas la foi catholique. Ils les réduisent en esclavage en leur imposant des corvées telles qu'ils oseraient à peine en infliger à leurs propres animaux domestiques.
                Or Nous, qui, malgré notre indignité, tenons la place du Seigneur sur terre, et qui désirons, de toutes nos forces, amener à Son bercail les brebis de Son troupeau qui nous sont confiées et qui sont encore hors de Son bercail, considérant que ces Indiens, en tant que véritables êtres humains, ne sont pas seulement aptes à la foi chrétienne, mais encore, d'après ce que Nous avons appris, accourent avec hâte vers cette foi, et désirant leur apporter tous les secours nécessaires, Nous décidons et déclarons, par les présentes lettres, en vertu de Notre Autorité apostolique, que lesdits Indiens et tous les autres peuples qui parviendraient dans l'avenir à la connaissance des chrétiens, même s'ils vivent hors de la foi ou sont originaires d'autres contrées, peuvent librement et licitement user, posséder et jouir de la liberté et de la propriété de leurs biens, et ne doivent pas être réduits en esclavage. Toute mesure prise en contradiction avec ces principes est abrogée et invalidée.
                De plus, Nous déclarons et décidons que les Indiens et les autres peuples qui viendraient à être découverts dans le monde doivent être invités à ladite foi du Christ par la prédication de la parole de Dieu et par l'exemple d'une vie vertueuse. Toutes choses passées ou futures contraires à ces dispositions sont à considérer comme nulles et non avenues.

    Donné à Rome, le 2 juin de l'année 1537, troisième de Notre Pontificat.