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Carta de Pio VI ao Arcebispo de Goa sobre Bombaim. O Arcebispo chamava-se D. Frei Manuel de S. Catarina.
Transcription
Page 1
1799 (3)
Lee. Oriente - 27 - a -
Carta de Pio VI ao Arcebispo
de gra sua Domissão, - O
Arcebispo da S.
Frei Manuel de S. C. Celica
mica -
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Traduzione Di Lettera Di Pio VI. all’Arcivescovo di Goa Fr. Emm. dal. Caterina
(Senore)ile Trattello, saluto d’Apostolica Benedizione. E già alcun
tempo che dagli Arcivescovi di Goa, e dai Ministri di S. M.
Ferdipina ci furono più volte esposte delle laynanzie sulla qui
ridipone da Noi conceduta nell’Isola di Bombay ai Vicari
Apostolici dell’Impero del Mogol, come se fosse Stata Nostra in-
tentione di togliarla ai suddetti Prelati di Goa. Noi però sempre
rispondemmo, ch’eravamo avvenno alcun ostacolo perché l’Arcivescovo
di Goa non esercitasse una finissima giurisdizione in quell’isola,
di cui neppure la minima parte, fintanto che tu veggerai cotesta
Chiesa, nien altro potrai darlo manifestare. Imperciocché avendo
gl’Inglesi fino dall’anno 1718. espulsi tutti i Portoghesi, primi-
ramente i Gesuiti Sacerdoti, di poi i Francescani, in ultimo gli
stessi Metropolitani Vicari, quelli infelice parte di Cattolici, poiché
non avevano aluna guida e condottiere per la via dell’eterna salute,
alzò le mani a questa cattedra del Pastore universale, doman-
dando qualcuno che gli somministrasse il Pane evangelico); allo
in fì che col’immensa degli stessi Inglesi, da questa S. Sede fu con-
ceduta ai Vicari Apostolici residenti nell’impero del Mogol, la facoltà
di porgere il saccolo spirituale ai Cattolici nell’isola di Bombay,
fintantochè composter le discordie in sorte fra gl’Inglesi e i
Portoghesi; d’esso si nuova conceduta all’Arcivescovo di Goa la facoltà
di esercitare e suoi primieri diritti.
Di lodiamo pure sommamente, per aver posto in opera della
la tua forza ed industria, allor che rimosso l’impedimento della
nazione Inglesa, sittabilita la giurisdizione della Sede di Goa, in
quell’isola, e grandemente ci rallegrammo, quando ci venne a
notizia, aversi felicemente conseguito. Qual cosa mai più de-
sidererebbe più effervi, che la flotte comandi ai propri sudditi
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con primo potere? E perché mai altri si lasciò l'Apóstolica Defecta
i suoi Missionari e Viaggi da portato, se non perché attribuì a
Vescovi ove sono, il esercitano liberamente le loro potestà, ed
obbediscano ai loro ordini; ove per mancanza, o impediti da
qualche motivo non possano ai fedeli presidere, faccino le
loro vece ed intraprendano il reggimento delle anime con l’au-
torità della Sede Apostolica? E quando mai ha ordinato che le
quale concessione ai Missionari ed ai Vescovi, debbano preferirsi
alla propria e legittima giurisdizione, se non cattiva da estre-
ma necessità? Alcunto non devi tu ignorare neppure, che noi
gravemente ci condanniamo rilevando appena dalle tue lettere,
che la giurisdizione della chiesa di Goa per effetto della feria
di Lahore era stata di nuovo tolta dall’Indo di Bombay. E pu-
lo contrario avendo tu voluto, portato a noi i tuoi pensieri, ed
alla S. Sede manifestati, ci fu cosa molto gravata ed accettata.
Imparvechi ti saranno grandemente obbligati, ogni volta
che provvisori di sollevare in parte l’Apostolica Notte del
Santuario.
Alla quel che domandi; cioè, che essendo stato tu dagl’In-
glesi d’incivito, diciamo ancora non il nostro Vescovo Vit-
torio; qual chiamiamo eper ciò alla carità cristiana, e collo spi-
rito della giustizia ripugnante. Non così facendo, rimarrebbero
di nuovo i Cattolici di Bombay senza Pastore e senza Duce
univamente vaganti sotto un impero eterodoto. Non con-
fetti tu stesso che il Vescovo Vittorio cedette da ogni governo
della chiesa, subito che date furono riprese le redini spirituali?
A tua confessione adunque Vittorio non tolse mai la
tua giurisdizione, ma quella, di cui ora si privò con nostra
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vicario) potesta amministra, che finche tu non la possa di nuovo acquistare. Perché poi chiedi a Noi questa stessa cosa, e desideri piuttosto, che non potendo tu essere, non vi sia alcun cattolico pastore nell'isola di Bombay? Forse adunque perché Cristo è Divino? E perché i Cattolici di Bombay non potranno rimanere sotto la giurisdizione dell'Arcivescovo di Goa, tollerare che egli non rimanghino paivi di ogni prescolo della religione Cristiana? Forse che qualche Arcivescovo di Goa è stato crocifitto sui Cattolici di Bombay, o siamo stati questi battepatti in di lui nome? Così rinvio l'Apostolo Paolo rimproverava i Corinti per avervi fra loro de’ sciemi, e per dirsi da ognuno: Io son di Paolo, io son di Appollo, io d’Cefa. Imperocché, deliberava per esser banditori del Vangelo, perché predicasse Cristo, che da tutti senza distinzione alcuna fosse accolto, ed udito, e perciò dice nell’epistola ai Filippensi: alcuni annunziano per rivalità e non con pura intenzione Cristo, stimando di aggiungere amici lasci una nuova vescovazione. Infatti, purché in qualunque maniera, o sia per occasioni, o sia per vero solo Cristo venga annunciato, io one ne rallegrò, e me ne rallegrerò ancora. Quanto maggiormente ora non devi tu rallegrarti, perché non avrivalità, né per invidia della tua autorità gli operaj mandati da questa sede apostolica, facendo le tue vece in queste remotissime contrade, spargono i Semi Del Vangelo, e predicano, e propagano diffusamente quanto mai di più la fede cattolica. Inutilmente poi ti duoli di certe calamie ed inganni come di cagioni di offese date dagli inglesi e i portoghesi. Non interessa a noi il conoscerle, ed investigarle, essendo soltanto
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Copio de Bulla exibita in Studiis, defpedita Manu! sed tuta
Venerabili Doctore Scholastico, tam de rebus ad famam theologiamque, et quod
illuminet, de dictis ac scriptis, ubi non est (de qua quidem auctoritate dicitur)
de concupiscentia & Nota, utraque, Apostolicus, ad Sapiens, aliquid, cum pietate,
sacramentali Complinari, et de eand. presenti, poscitur. Credibile, Novatus, qui
affert Hoc in unius fepat, usum bene beneficium, responsionem, haec moneo,
quod perfecte De Morali, quae sponsio oblati vel potestatem in illis
procedit, quod dictamen, morali, super, in minimum, quidem, peratur, hoc
exercendo nemo alius, ut habet potestatis impendere, damnum, etc.
1718, cum inde, Angli, Austriaci, armis, Pontifices, juxta, premissa,
vindicta Francorum, postremo, uno, ejus Metropolitana, Theneis, ejus
tantum, mandatum, illa Catholica, genere, cum Diversis, et extrema, nullum
habet, nec vi, sed aut, Choro, et hanc, Dominicali, litteris, lata,
(Deo) manus tetigit, atque ipse, et propter, quo, quatenus Evangelicum
dixit, frangenti, actibus, ejus, non absumptis, Angelo, ab Hoc, aperta
fides, sed, impedire, ut fecerunt, Pravos, Ecclesiae, in imperiale,
quod, degeneratus, et Catholica, in loculis, Complinari, prorogavit,
Domus, Episcopi, vident, subito, Angelo, distingui, que composita, causarum,
et, chirurgicam, (quam proxima) dies, jam, exortus, de potestate, fecit.
Et nos, dilectissime, beatus, quod, immo, iudicatus, tres, novos, sanctos,
qui, ex, sacris, et, amato, dilato, Pectorum, impediens, in, gloria,
condidit, in eo, Sancta, rectitudine, majore, laudamus, manifestis
habet: summa, cum, et, de, felicitas, obtenta, cogitatio, quae, sanus,
cognoscit, Athanasy, ope, portat, quae, quod, Elicens, Fidelitas, eripit,
sed, in, quod, potestatis, loco, edat, Majestatem, ergo, Athenae,
qua, gentilium, conculcat, hoc, Apo, in his, deduc, scio, quod, not, Quare,
quo, non, videtur, si, quod, pro, falsum, habeo, invenit, facio, te, dicat,
non, mandato, praesent, Abbatem, dant, aut, aliquid, in, causa, impedit,
quod, de, felicitate, recipiunt, quia, illorum, deplorent, et, Apostolici,
lecta, auctoritate, animarum, argumen, s'incipiant.
Quam, de, verbo, ingens,
facultate, Allegationis, et, literis, ampliata, proposita, ad, legimus,
qui, ditioni, profunda, refert, indut, non, extrane, adhuc, non, fortiter,
locum.
Pero, ne, illud, quod, en, tub, chi, debet, inexplicatum, doluisse,
Tam, seu, annos, cum, primus, in, bellum, luce, audomny, clam,
Circumdatam,
Condo, serv, levis, Confraternitas, se, lacuna, Complinari, additam,
fisco.
Quod, qui, in, edito, ad, illo, principium, genitus, iam, ad, hanc,
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tandem dederunt [UNCLEAR: B]condria, nimptum voluit et gratum fuit. Haerimini enim
gratiam partem aliquam et Apostolicis Notis
dixerim quid puto, ut loquar Augustino,
toplor sitiam et sitiens sitiens Principem
fontali, atque a pietatis diuina abundantia
[UNCLEAR: Rivum] hauriens, nec Pastoribus ad Deum pro
imperio remanserunt. Non sic cum tamen
fortuna statim ac spiritualis habens a
latina regimine prorsus destititisse. Et quia
dictionem dictione, quamquam sibi magis
[UNCERTAIN: sapiens] Nostra potestate administrabat,
[UNCLEAR: Cor]reatam etsi ipsum a Nobis petiit, ac
in invictis Bombardis Valchatium
Principum adiuuimus id a Christiana
communi arbitramur. Nunc enim quoniam
Deus misere erianter Sub Potentibus
[UNCLEAR: late] ipse latens Existopum et Ari-
bens a se reiectis, seuerunt abstinere
Et quia igitur confidenter licuit fuis-
se, quibus del rem, quam modo certis
hot dante cum demus adepisse queas.
ut ne quid postea sit in spe reponi.
et scribens esse desiderat. Numquid
ergo grandis direxit et [ILLEGIBLE: ~5 chars]. Se
[UNCLEAR: etsi] negotium Geani, processit non procul
promia fabula destituto, id circo etsi
[UNCLEAR: th]ri priorem, Coenua pro Bombardis
summis baptisati. Itaque ita quidem
Paulus, ego sum etsi melius scirem pro ipso
ego sum Pauli, ego vero Apolo, ego vero
geli. Divisus est dem modo Christus?
ulla diuisione eriperetur, et audiretur
[UNCLEAR: he]siens inquit. Quidam in contentione
Sinice, aut estimantes, de presserand
eum modo. Sic per occasionem, seu per
et in hoc gaudeo, sed et gaudebo. Quam
ob quod non ad contentionem, neque ad
[UNCLEAR: ut] hoc et Apostolus dedit operari suae
[UNCLEAR: he]sioni, Leganitus, spargant Evangelii
quem latissime fieri potest, per ducunt
de quibusdam calumnijs ac odiis tamquam
seu inter Stylam, et Caribdim, ad Nos con-
attinet ea, cognoscere, et investigare cum
Catholicis gregis bonis, atque in eo summo
est consulere, et providere. Quod propter
glor potentatum fuerant, in Insulis Bom-
nullus alius postea de factis iisdem
et si quid Bombardorum Iuris dictio
possuunt eos omni [UNCLEAR: Christiane] solli-
to esse prorsus. Nam ne aliquis No-
strae vicibus Cum pare aut alij millum
quidem Corinthijs increpabat Ap.
[UNCLEAR: agens] aliquid Evangelio, diceret
os vero lapso. etsabel enim ut Evan-
gelium prodiret et ab omnibus abque
directum, propterea in Epistola ad Co-
rinthios Christum annunciant, non
et sinceriter omnino, quin. Quid enim
si per veritatem Christus annuncietur,
Quanto magis et tu gloriari debes
que ad tres auctoritate, invidiam mi-
seri licet, suspectum magis in edes mino-
geli. Simina fidemque Catholicam
[UNCLEAR: ducunt] aliquid obsleant. Subsidia autem
tamquam de subactis offensionum loca-
Nos conquereris. Nihil enim ad Nos
[UNCLEAR: cum] sensum Nostri sit muneris
[UNCLEAR: humilitati], quoniam quidem in Nobis
[UNCLEAR: ymo] ut de liti in posterum quecun-
que Bombardis exerceri licebit, tunc
[UNCLEAR: sidens] ipse dehabita. Dominus autem
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autem & ipsum fiat ad No cura) deuterium in eius inducto lethargy
applicante, et avidi salutis abrenn. Minim) debetumus 100, computa
Veo cecipio animo supremum huius Norti benenq que No illud pue-
cipientes ad animum) debile tao fidei carnifexum delittem dia-
quetauiles lebeped aue ni paterno benevolentia gignus clarpiatus
Anastaticas (Bene dictatuum) quem stiam ei Divinorum despiciumSof
Nebi ita icto minimo gozgi impertiri a Nebi ex intimo Corde valle-
mey, existens. Iohanns Vama Vs.
Etto conforma:
[Illegible signature]
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ufficio nostro, per quanto è da noi provvedere d'accorrere al bene
della salvezza del grigio cattolico. L'onde se in avvenire ti
sarà permesso dagli singoli di poter esercitare la tua potestà,
allora niun altro potente fuor di te dovrà esservi. Finché però
ciò non avvenga, è riservato a noi il pensiero che le pecorelle
di loro pastori privati non languiscano, e dal vetro s'intirro
non si allontanino. Non dubitiamo certamente o Venerabile
Fratello, che tu non riceva in risposta questi nostri sentimenti
con quello stello spirito con cui li abbiamo espressi pura
salvezza, cioè delle anime alla tua cura affidate; e partico-
larmente compartiamo a te l'apostolica benedizione in segno
di paterna bontudenza, la quale vogliamo che tu l'itienga sé
come dall'intimo del cuore. Data a te e a cotesto tuo gruppo
in augurio. Propria bene Spirituale. Dato in Roma
[UNCLEAR: best interpretation]
[ILLEGIBLE: ~10 chars]
[DAMAGED: vertical crease along right margin, slight discoloration at bottom right corner]
[UNCERTAIN: guess]
[UNREADABLE]
Translation
Page 1
--- TRANSLATION ---
1799 (3) Lee. Oriente - 27 - a - Letter from Rio VI to the Archbishop regarding his mission – The Archbishop of the Holy See, Friar Manuel de Santa Catarina
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--- TRANSLATION ---
Translation of a Letter from Pope Pius VI to the Archbishop of Goa, Fr. Emmanuel de Santa Catarina (Lord), Greeting with Apostolic Blessing.
It has now been some time since repeated complaints have been brought before Us by the Archbishops of Goa and by the ministers of His Catholic Majesty Ferdinand, concerning Our recent disposition regarding the Island of Bombay, in which We granted jurisdiction to the Apostolic Vicars of the Mughal Empire—alleging that it was Our intention thereby to deprive the said Prelates of Goa of their rights. Yet We have consistently responded that no obstacle has been introduced to prevent the Archbishop of Goa from exercising his full and proper jurisdiction over that island; nor shall any part thereof be withheld from you, so long as you continue to govern this Church, in such a manner as may clearly demonstrate your authority.
For indeed, ever since the English expelled all Portuguese subjects from the island beginning in the year 1718—first the Jesuit priests, then the Franciscans, and finally even the Metropolitan Vicars themselves—that unfortunate portion of the Catholic faithful, being left entirely without spiritual guidance or pastoral leadership on the path to eternal salvation, raised their hands to this Chair of the Universal Pastor, imploring that someone be sent to provide them with the Bread of the Gospel.
Accordingly, with the consent of the English authorities, the Holy See granted to the Apostolic Vicars residing within the Mughal Empire the faculty to administer spiritual sacraments to the Catholics of Bombay, but only for so long as the disputes between the English and the Portuguese remained unresolved. Once those differences are reconciled, the faculty previously withdrawn shall be restored anew to the Archbishop of Goa, enabling him to resume the exercise of his original rights.
We furthermore commend you most highly for the strength and diligence you have shown in re-establishing the jurisdiction of the See of Goa on the island, once the impediment posed by the English nation had been removed. Greatly have We rejoiced upon learning that this objective had been successfully achieved.
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--- TRANSLATION ---
[UNCERTAIN: wu primo potere?] [UNCERTAIN: Sporche mai altresì ladue] Has the Apostolic See ever failed to send its missionaries and bishops everywhere, unless perhaps bishops are already present, exercising freely their authority and obeying their orders? And where such bishops are absent—prevented by some impediment from presiding over the faithful—should not others act in their stead, undertaking the care of souls by virtue of the authority of the Apostolic See? Moreover, when has it ever been decreed that the jurisdictions granted to missionaries and bishops should be subordinated to one’s own (albeit esteemed) jurisdiction, except under pressing necessity?
Assuredly, you cannot be unaware how deeply we have grieved upon learning from your letters that the jurisdiction of the Church of Goa had once again been withdrawn from the dioceses of Bombay by decree of the Court of London. Yet, on the contrary, when you sorrowfully brought your concerns before Us and laid them before the Holy See, this was regarded as a matter both gravely serious and most acceptable. Indeed, We were greatly obliged to you, each time you sought in part to alleviate the Apostolic Solitude in which We stand. But what you now request—that since you have been expelled by the English, We too should withdraw Our Bishop Vittorio—we judge to be contrary to Christian charity and to the spirit of justice. Were We to do so, the Catholics of Bombay would again be left without pastor or guide, wandering helplessly under a non-Catholic regime. Do you not yourself admit that Bishop Vittorio ceased all governance of the church immediately upon the resumption of spiritual authority by the proper ordinaries?
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--- TRANSLATION ---
The vicar has authority to administer, so long as you are unable to reacquire it. Why then do you petition Us for this very same matter, and even express a preference that, should you be unable to serve, there be no Catholic pastor at all on the island of Bombay? Is it perhaps because Christ is divine? And why should the Catholics of Bombay, who remain under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Goa, not endure being deprived of every ecclesiastical ministry of the Christian religion? Was any Archbishop of Goa crucified for the Catholics of Bombay, or were we baptised in his name? In this regard, the Apostle Paul rebuked the Corinthians for having divisions among them, and for each one saying: “I belong to Paul,” “I belong to Apollos,” “I belong to Cephas.” For Paul resolved to be a herald of the Gospel, proclaiming Christ so that He might be received and heard by all without distinction; thus he writes in the Epistle to the Philippians: ‘Some indeed preach Christ even out of rivalry and without pure intentions, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.’ Yet he adds: ‘But what does it matter? So long as in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, I rejoice, and will continue to rejoice.’ How much more, therefore, ought you to rejoice, since those ministers sent by this Apostolic See—acting in your stead in these most remote regions—will bring forth no rivalry, nor any envy towards your authority, while sowing the seeds of the Gospel, preaching, and widely propagating the Catholic faith. Furthermore, your complaints about certain calamities and deceptions, which you attribute to offences committed by the English and the Portuguese, are entirely unfounded.
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--- TRANSLATION ---
Copy of a Bull exhibited in Sichyia, issued by the hand—yet addressed to the Venerable Doctor and Lord—both proceeding from the favour of the delinquent, and that which enlightens; yet somewhat deviating, save insofar as resting in God, and henceforth abstaining tenfold from concupiscence according to Our Apostolic Oracle and Imperial authority, which (the Imperatorial) has established through the arm of the Compassionate, and from this present canticle, it has been placed. Gudricus Vovatus, who bears Hobo within the union of episcopal tenure, holds the response, having fully dedicated his dwelling to God, so that not only may you be blessed with spiritual beauty in Christ, but also through moral doctrine, especially for those petitioners who come forth from another house, imploring that the damages caused by this power be contested, and that this 1118, together with its individual lords each year, confirm the pre-established prerogatives. Then Danceranus, finally one of its Metropolitan Hierarchical orders of that world, would have provided decrees and rectors of churches among the Catholic people, setting forth on the path of salvation. Here, the Lord Father, rejoicing in historical matters, extended his hand, appointing certain image-makers, such as whomever had proclaimed the Evangelical word, to break forth, their deeds not concealed. The English, however, obstruct access here before you, unless the faculty (Presiding Synodal Authority overseeing those residing under obligation, and the Catholic body within the arm of the Conclave) precedes, should restoration occur beneath the English, if indeed within such brevity, by hand and Christian lineage (the nearest), it now declares to them, and concerning the power of the Spirit. And we, most worthy noble, acknowledge without doubt the holiness you have accomplished, he who is removed from sin and loved with patience, impeding the Diocesan, yet increasing the fertility of blessing within that arm, promoting greater righteousness, land, and abundance: thus we affirm with summation. And from the felicity obtained, we understand that one alone, Athabasy, bears it by means, as completed through swift dispatches. Yet wherein lies authority, by this edict, therefore of the Elders, that Alteny, whoever grieves these things, having made supplication against disgrace, must know whether the Bishop, wherever he has returned, has sworn upon an equal number of books, priests, and aforementioned summations, as commanded, in the presence [of witnesses]. Obstruction persists, or when attained in a hindered cause, they deny prosperity, because the other repels, and reproach souls through the authority of Apostolic decrees. When discourse advances with facility, alleging impediments either canonical or divine, proposed unto legitimate princes, they offer indication, neither applying extreme measures nor acting rashly; nevertheless, that bridge indeed belongs to you, to whom belongs the duty of encapsulation, your sorrow, for years foremost, amid the warfare of light’s midpoint, and in the year of Christ’s nativity, the Council edition, civic, Amriconan, read out from the arm of the Conclave, added to the fisc.
---
Translator’s Note:
This text appears to be a corrupted or heavily abbreviated transcription—possibly from a damaged manuscript or ciphered administrative record—of a late medieval or early modern ecclesiastical document originating from Portuguese colonial ecclesiastical archives. The syntax is irregular, likely due to scribal errors, Latin abbreviations, or linguistic hybridisation (possibly mixing Ecclesiastical Latin with Iberian legal or liturgical shorthand). The translation reconstructs meaning based on context, standard formulae from papal bulls, synodal decrees, and colonial church administration practices between the 16th and 18th centuries. Terms such as bracho Conclavem ("arm of the Conclave"), fisco (fisc/tax register), and references to bishops, metropolitans, and spiritual authority suggest a document concerning jurisdictional disputes, ecclesiastical appointments, or fiscal rights within a colonial diocese. Proper names like "Sichyia," "Gudricus Vovatus," "Hobo," "Danceranus," "Athabasy," and "Alteny" are preserved as transliterations; they may represent loci, officials, or symbolic designations requiring further archival cross-referencing. The phrase “Amriconan” may indicate a reference to the American colonies (i.e., Portuguese America or Brazil), though orthographic variation is significant. This translation aims for scholarly intelligibility while preserving the ambiguity inherent in the source.
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[ILLEGIBLE: ~150 characters]
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Please provide the historical document transcription you would like translated into modern UK academic English. The current message contains a system error notification rather than the text to be translated. Once you supply the archival content, I will produce a scholarly translation in accordance with the guidelines provided.
Page 8
our office, insofar as it lies within our power, to provide for the spiritual welfare and salvation of the Catholic flock. Thus, if in future you are permitted by the competent authorities to exercise your authority fully, no other power besides yours shall then intervene. Until such time, however, it remains our responsibility to ensure that the sheep, deprived for now of their proper shepherd, do not languish nor stray from the true fold. We have no doubt, Venerable Brother, that you will receive these sentiments in the same spirit in which we express them—namely, with pure concern for the salvation of souls entrusted to your care. In particular, we impart to you the Apostolic Blessing as a sign of paternal goodwill, which we desire you to accept as coming sincerely from the depths of our heart. Given to you and to your community as a token of good wishes and for your spiritual benefit.