18. Scalabrini to Rampolla³²

Piacenza, December 1, 1893

Your Eminence,

I hesitated somewhat as to whether I should send you the enclosed letter of Archbishop Satolli or not.³³ But realizing that we are dealing with the defense of priests, who, after sacrificing all for the good of souls, find that there are those who do not cease to calumniate them before the Holy See, I decided to send it to you. I hope it will help show what weight one should give those who write to the contrary.

            The enterprise Archbishop Satolli is referring to is that championed, from its very beginning, by the Holy Father, namely, the foundation of a house of Missionaries which has no task other than to go here and there, wherever the Italian colonies are more populous, to evangelize by Sacred Missions, etc. But, unfortunately, even this enterprise is paralyzed by the lack of means. This is another proof of the need to come to its aid, as I mentioned to you in my last letter.

            Your Eminence, please forgive this new bother. With cordial veneration, I am

Your most humble and devoted servant,

John Baptist Scalabrini, Bishop of Piacenza

Note at the back: the Holy Father kept Mons. Satolli’s letter.