16.  Rampolla to Scalabrini²⁷

Rome, November 23, 1893

The Holy See was informed that recently there took place the sale of the church built in New York for the Italian emigrants and that this fact, as is understandable, caused much pain in many people because of the embarrassment that could accrue to the Catholic Church in those regions and also for the harm the Institute you founded might suffer. But, since we know that the fact itself must be attributed to the little foresight or lack thereof on the part of the Superior of the Italian Missionaries residing in that city, who started the building without first making sure he was able to finish it, I must nonetheless bring this matter to your attention, since the Holy Father desires that you take the necessary measures to keep incidences like the aforementioned one from being repeated.

Sincerely,