SESSION 6 - 27 April 1513
[Safeconduct for those who wish and ought to come to the council, for their
coming, residence, exchange of views and return journey]
Leo, bishop, servant of the servants of God, with the approval of the sacred
council, for an everlasting record. By the supreme ordinance of the omnipotent
who governs the things of heaven and of earth by his providence, we preside
over his holy and universal church, though we are unworthy. Instructed by the
saving and most holy teaching of the doctor of the gentiles, we direct our
chief attention, among the many anxieties from which we unceasingly suffer
distress, towards those things in particular by means of which unending unity
and unsullied charity may abide in the church; the flock committed to us may go
forward along the right courses towards the way of salvation, and the name of
Christians and the sign of the most sacred cross, in which the faithful have
been saved, may be more widely spread, after the infidels have been expelled
with the help of God's right hand.
Indeed, after the holding of five sessions of the sacred general Lateran
council, pope Julius II of happy memory, our predecessor, by the advice and
agreement of our venerable brothers the cardinals of the holy Roman church, of
whose number we then were, in a praiseworthy and lawful manner and for sound
reasons, guided by the holy Spirit, summoned the sixth session of the council
to take place on the eleventh day of this month. But after he had been taken
from our midst, we postponed the sixth session until today, with the advice and
consent of our said brothers, for reasons which were then expressed and for other
reasons influencing the attitude of us and of our said brothers. But since
there had always been an inner determination within us, while we were of lesser
rank, to see the general council being celebrated (as a principal means of
cultivating the Lord's field), now that we have been raised to the highest
point of the apostolate, considering that a duty which results from the office
of pastoral care enjoined on us has coincided with our honourable and
beneficial wish, we have undertaken this matter with a more earnest desire and
complete readiness of mind. Consequently, with the approval of the same sacred
Lateran council we approve the postponement which we made and the council
itself, until the aims for which it was summoned have been completed, in particular
that a general and settled peace may be arranged between christian princes and
rulers after the violence of wars has been stilled and armed conflict set
aside. We intend to apply and direct all our efforts to this peace, with
untiring care and leaving nothing untried for so salutary a good. We declare
that it is and shall be our unchangeable attitude and intention that, after
those things which affect the praise of God and the exaltation of the aforesaid
church and the harmony of Christ's faithful have been achieved, the holy and
necessary campaign against the enemies of the catholic faith may be carried out
and may achieve (with the favour of the most High) a triumphant outcome.
In order, however, that those who ought to attend so very useful a council
may not be held back in any way from coming, we hereby grant and concede, with
the approval of the said sacred council, to each and every one of those
summoned to the council by the said Julius, our predecessor, or who ought to
take part, by right or custom, in the meetings of general councils, especially
those of the French nation, and to those schismatics and others who are coming
to the said Lateran council by common or special right, on account of a
declaration or apostolic letter of our predecessors or of the apostolic see
(except, of course, those under prohibition), and to the attendants and
associates of those who come, of whatever status, rank, condition or nobility
they may be, ecclesiastical or secular, for themselves and all their belongings,
a free, guaranteed and fully comprehensive safeconduct, for coming by land or
sea through the states, territories and places that are subject to the said
Roman church, to this Lateran council in Rome, and of residing in the city and
freely exchanging views, and of leaving it as often as they wish, with
complete, unrestricted and total security and with a true and unchallengeable
papal guarantee, notwithstanding any impositions of ecclesiastical or secular
censures and penalties which may have been promulgated in general against them,
for whatever reasons, by law or by the aforesaid see, under any forms of words
or clauses, and which they may in general have incurred. By our letters we
shall encourage, warn, and request each and every christian king, prince and
ruler that, out of reverence for almighty God and the apostolic see, they are
not to molest or cause to be molested directly or indirectly, in any way in
their persons or goods, those on their way to this sacred Lateran council, but
they are to allow them to come in freedom, security and peace.
In addition, for the carrying out of the celebration of this council, we
declare that the seventh session shall be held on 23 May next. Let nobody
therefore . . . If anyone however...
|