Summaries

I Naples, January 14, 1884

Letter of H.E. the Archbishop of Naples to His Eminence Cardinal Simeoni, Prefect of the S. Congregation of Propaganda.

Most Reverend Eminence,

The revered letter of this Sacred Congregation dated the ninth of this month, n. 162, sent to me about the Italian immigrants, has given me a new occasion to always more deeply admire the zeal whereby Your M.R. Eminence and the said Congregation are animated to care for all the true interests of Christianity. In this way you continue triumphantly and with factual evidence to demonstrate how true charity and brotherly love are nourished only in the Catholic Church, which, as a very loving mother, leaves nothing untried for the spiritual welfare of her children. I am happy beyond belief that in a matter of so great interest for religion and for society, Your M.R. Eminence has so deigned to call upon my unworthy cooperation which in this as in all other similar matters, I am most highly honored to place in every way at the disposition of the enlightened wisdom of Your Eminence.

            It is indeed true that ships sail from this port full of many Italians who migrate to the Americas, lured by the hope of finding there a better chance. For what concerns religious practices, I am assured by the Pastor of the port area that almost all migrants, before starting such a long journey, take care of their spiritual life in the so called Church of Portosalvo, where they go to confession and receive communion. Many are also edified by the deep devotion shown there by the seamen toward an image of the Virgin whom they invoke as their patroness in the dangers of the sea. So far as the voyage is concerned, I have learned from

competent persons that the navigation laws provide that no discussion on religion or politics be carried on and that on the ships the men are separated from the women with rigorous watchfulness.

            In the meantime, to comply with the just desires of Your M.R. Eminence, I have tried to gather a committee of notable ecclesiastics and laymen of sound and religious principles. This committee, assuming at once the care of the poor migrants, might try every effort to dissuade

them from exposing themselves to disappointment, and, if they persist in their plan, might oversee their spiritual and temporal interests. The ecclesiastics are Msgr. Raffaele Polichetti, Don Vincenzo Raimondo Caiazzo pastor of Sant’ Onofrio, and Don Luigi Grieco pastor of San Giacomo degli Italiani. The laymen are: Raffaele Dusmet, brother of the Archbishop of Catania, second in command of the maritime command, Captain Mariano de Martino and the Messrs. Salvatore Cotuogno and Fortunato Mileti, who own the inns where all the migrants gather before the journey, so thus almost none will be able to escape the charitable work that has been undertaken for them. Besides, since Vincenzo Galatola, captain of a ship belonging to Mr. de Martino, is now going to settle in New York, I will ask him to get in touch with the Catholic committee there, and to correspond with the committee in Naples for the Italians who migrate from here. I am honored to forward this much to Your M.R. Eminence, humbly begging that you may deign to inform me whether this approach meets your approval, an approval which, needless to say, will give to the members of the above-mentioned committee a great impulse in carrying out with charity and zeal their charitable work.

            Meanwhile I kiss with deep respect the sacred purple and confirm the sense of my deepest veneration. Your most devoted and obliged servant.

Guglielmo, Archbishop