19. Scalabrini to Pius X¹⁹

         Brazil, October 1904

Most Holy Father,

Perhaps I am indiscreet by writing to you again. You, I am sure, will forgive one of the most affectionate of your sons, who finds great comfort in addressing the common Father, the Vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

            For 40 days I have been in the Italian colonies of Rio Grande do Sul. Without assurance of the comfort of kneeling before Your Holiness in case the ship may not stop at Naples, I dare to place under the eyes of Your Holiness the conditions of these 300 thousand Italians, concentrated in the Valleys formed by the rivers Carrero, Prata and Das Antas. This is an entirely Italian territory 250 kilometers long and about 150 in width. It is

marvelous to think that up to 1876 it was occupied by savage Indians, who later retreated to the North as our immigration arrived. The Valley do Carrero includes the missions of Encantado with 175 chapels. This territory is cared for by our Missionaries of St. Charles.

            The Valley das Antas is cared for by the diocesan priests and by Capuchin friars from Savoy. In the 300 and more chapels dependent from the parish churches all the Patron Saints of the Veneto, Lombardy, Emilia, etc. are recalled. The welcome received has been something surprising, indescribable....