IV

After detailed analysis of the above projects, hopeful of bringing with earnestness and prudence some help to the growing Italian emigration, which is the cause for the loss of so many souls, the following resolutions were submitted to the Holy Father:

1.     To establish in three or four key Italian ports a committee of priests and laymen who would assist the migrants at departure and would help them spiritually.

2.     To establish in Rome a central committee to which the correspondence of all these committees would be directed and from which the necessary instructions and policies would be received.

3.     To establish in the principal ports of North and South America parallel committees, made up of priests and laymen who would spiritually aid the migrants and guide them through counseling.

4.     To set up in Italy one or more Institutes of Priests. These priests would go to America to do missionary work among the immigrants and to sustain their faith. To achieve this purpose they would work out an agreement with the local bishops. Such an Institute would depend on the Ordinary, but the regulations would be approved by the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda.

5.     To establish a house for such priests in some more suitable place of the United States and Latin America so that they might give flying missions (missioni volanti) to the immigrants in order to safeguard their faith.

6.     To entrust the direction of the central committee to a reliable person who, while keeping in very close relationship with Propaganda, might take full charge of such an important work.

        Such resolutions, presented by the Archbishop of Tyre, Secretary of the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda, for the supreme approval of the Holy Father, obtained the following rescript:

From the Audience with the Holy Father, June 26, 1887

“The Holy Father is of the opinion that a person to be chosen by him should go for a while to America to survey the situation and to provide for the assistance of the Italian immigrants through priests to be sent by those Bishops of northern Italy able to provide them. The bishops of the two Americas should be informed ahead of time that the necessity for providing

for the needs of immigration has prompted the Holy See to take action. That the Holy See intends to give full powers to the person assigned for this work, as mentioned above, but not in an absolute way. It wishes to know what limitations they will suggest so that it may take them into account.

            “He approves what has been sent forth. He wants that a bishop should preside over the central and local committees in Italy. He demands a full report on the problem.”

            In the executive of his revered order, we humbly present him with this historic report, respectfully awaiting his further measures.

            From the Audience with the Holy Father, November 14, 1887

In response to the above report of the Secretary of the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda, the Holy Father designed to make known the following decisions:

1.         He highly approves the erection in Piacenza of an Institute of Italian priests who, under rules to be approved by the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda, will spend some time preparing themselves to go among the migrants of America and will remain there to assist them for at least five years. They will have to place themselves at the disposal of the Bishops for the above purpose, and they will receive the necessary faculties from them. The Bishop of Piacenza is therefore authorized to make use of the means he has ready to provide a house for the Institute. The rest will be provided through offerings.

2.         He wants that a titular Bishop be sent to America at the opportune time to survey the conditions and needs of the immigrants, especially for what concerns the discipline of the Italian clergy sent there, and to report back to the Holy See.

3.         He commands that a letter be written to the American bishops requesting from them the information that is lacking. The letter should say that the Holy Father, in his desire to remedy as far as possible the evils of emigration, invites the Bishops of Italy to send to America pious and zealous priests to assist the migrants; that in order to prepare the priests for such a difficult mission, a house has been erected in the diocese of Piacenza; that from there they will leave to place themselves at the disposal of the ordinaries; that, therefore, when they need priests, the American bishops can address themselves to the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda, which will request them from the above named Institute. So far as the Bishops of Brazil are concerned, the Holy Father wants that they should directly grant to the missionaries the necessary faculties, and without dependence on the pastors and the local vicars. He authorizes the bishops, when necessary, to separate the territory inhabited by the Italians from parochial boundaries, constituting new parishes to be entrusted to the direction of the above-named missionaries.

4.         He commands that a letter be written to the Bishop of Piacenza, praising the new Institute about to be opened. It should say that it is his expressed desire that the Italian Bishops allow their priests, who manifest such a vocation, to dedicate themselves to the missions among migrants by joining the above Institute. Moreover they should favor them with true zeal, assuring them, in case they return, of all the advantages that they would merit after such praiseworthy services, as though they would have rendered them on behalf of the respective dioceses.

5.         He wishes that some centrally located house for the missionaries be set up in America to attend to the flying missions among those immigrants who are too far away from the others and for whom it could be impossible to provide priests with a permanent residence.

6.         He believes that for now the formation of committees in Italy and America be delayed.

7.         Finally, he requests that young Italians from America who would show good inclination for the ecclesiastical life, be admitted in the same Institute in Piacenza, so that they could be educated and ordained priests on behalf of the colonies to which they belong.