Leo XIII to the Bishops of Brazil on the church and slavery

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,,4 LEO XIII

BISHOPS OF BRAZIL

HURCH AND OLAVERY,

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LEO XIII

BISHOPS OF BRAZIL

HURCH AND SlAVERY,

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FOR THE BENEFIT OF

St. Joseph's Seminary for Colored Missions,

BALTIMORE, MD.

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To His Venei-nhle Brothers fhe Bishops of Brazil, Leo XIII, Pope:

Venekaule Brothers, Health and Bexedktion in the
LoRi> —

lS^ fro

MID tlif many and great demonstrations of affection which
i^V from almost all the peoples of the earth have come to Us,
and are still coming to us, in congratulation upon the happy attain-
ment of the fiftieth anniversary of Our priesthcKxi, tiiere is one which
moves Us in a quite sj)ecial way. We mean one which comes from
Brazil, where, u]ion the occasion of this happy event, large numbers
of those who in that vast emj^re groan l^eneath the voke of slaverv,
havf Keen legally set free. And this work, so full of the spirit of
Chi'i-tian mercy, has been offered u\^ in co-operation with the clergv,
by charitable members of the laity of both sexes to God, the Author
and (Jivcr of all good things, in testimony of their gratitude for the
favor of the health and the years which have been granted to Us.
But this was s]iecially acceptable and sweet to Us because it lent
confirmation to the belief, whicli is so welcome to I's, that the great
majority of the people of Brazil desire to see tlie cruelty of slavery
ended, and rooted out from the land. This popular feeling has been
st-rongly seconded by the Emperor and his august daughter, and also
by the Ministers, by means of various laws which, with this end in
view, have l)een introduced and sanctione<l. We told the Brazilian
Anil)assador last January what a consf>lation these things were to
Us, and We also assured him that We would address lettei-s to the
Bishops of Brazil in behalf of these unhappy slaves.

We, indeed, to all men are the Vicar of Christ, the Son of God,
Who so loved the human i-ace, that not only did He not refuse,
taking (Mir nature to Himself, to live among men, but delighted in
the name of the Son of Man; o])eidy proclaiming that He had come
ujmn earth "to preach deliverance to the captives" in order that,
re.-ciiin'j- mankind from the worst slavery, which is the slaverv of -in,
*' he mi^:lit re-cstabli-h all things that are in lipaven an<l (Hi i;ii-tli."
and so bring l)ack all the childi-en of Adam from the depths of' the
ruin of the common fall to theii- original dignity. The words <<{ St.
Gregt)ry the Groat are very apjilicable here: " Since our liecleemcr,
the Autlior of all life, deigned to take human fiesh, that by the i)ower
of His Ciodhood the chains by which we were held in bondaL''e l>einir
broken, He might restore us to our first state of liberty, it is mo<t
fitting that men by the concession of manumission shouhl restore to
the freedom in which thev were born those whom nature sent free

into the world, but who have l)een condemned to the yoke of slavery
by the Law of Nations." It is right, therefore, and obviously in
keeping with Our Apostolic Office, that We should favor and
advance by every moans in Our power whatever helps to secure for
men, whether as individuals or as communities, safeguards against
the many miseries, wiiich, like the fruits of an evil tree, have sprung
from the sin of our first parent; and such safeguards of whatever
kind they may be, help not only to promote civilization and the
amenities t>f life, but lead on to that universal restitution of all
things which our Retleemer Jesus Christ coutcmplate<l and desired.
In the pre-ence of so much sutfering, the condition of slaverv, in
which a considerable part of the great human family has been sunk
in s(piak)r and atfiiction now for many centin-ies is deeplv to be
deploreil ; for the system is one which is wholly opp<)se<l to that
which was originally ordained by God and by nature. The Supreme
Author of all things so decreed that man should exercise a sort of
royal dominion over beasts and cattle and fish and fowl, but never
that men should exercise a like dominion over their fellow-men. As
St. Augustine puts it : ''Having created man a reasonable being, and
after His own likeness, (rod wished that he should rule only over the
brute creation ; that he should be the master, not of men, but of
beasts.'' From this it follows that the state of slaverv is rightty
regarded as a penalty ujion the >iinier, thus the word slave does not
occur in the Bible until the just man, Xoe, i)rande<l with it the sin of
his son. It was sin, therefore, which deserve<l this name; it wa.s not
natural. From the first sin came all evils, and specially this perver-
sity, that there were men who, forgetful of the original lirotherhood
of the race, instead of seeking, as they should natui'ally have done,
to promote mutual kindness and mutual respect, following their evil
desires began to think of t>tlier men as their interiors, and to hold
them as cattle l)orn for the yoke. In this way, through an absolute
forgetfulness of our common nature and of human dignity, and the
likeness of God stamped upon us all, it came to pass that in the con-
tentions anil wars which then broke out, those who were the strti^iger
reduced the coiKpierenl into slaverv; so that mankind, though of the
same race, became divi<le<l into two sections, the conquered slaves and
their victorious masters. The history of tiie ancient world presents
us with this miserable spectacle down to the time of the coming of
our Lord, when the calamity of slavery had fallen heavily upon all
the nations, and the number of freemen had become so reduced that
the poet was able to put this atrocious phrase into the mouth of
Ciesar : " The human race exists for the sake of a few." * The svstem

flourished even anictng the most ci\ilize<l |H(i})les, anioiitr the Greeks
and among the Kumans, with whnm the tew imposed their will ujxjn
tlie many ; and this i)()\ver wa> exereist-d so unjustly and with sneh
haughtiness, that a crowd of slave.- wa> legarded merely as so nnmy
chattels, not as persons, but as things. They were lield to he outside
the sphere of law, and without even the elaini to retain and enjov
life. ''Slaves are in the power ot' their masteis. and this p<jwer is
derived from the Law of Nations; lor we tind that among all nations
masters have the power of life and death •ivei- their slaves, and what-
ever a slave earns l)elongs to liis ma.-t*'r." Owing \<< thi> .-tate of
moral confusion it became lawful for men to ^ell their slave.-, to give
them in exchange, to disp(,)se of them by will, to beat them, to kill
them, to abuse them by forcing them to ^erve for the uratification oi'
evil passions and cruel >uperstition- ; these things could be dcuie,
legally, with impunity, and in the light of heaven. Even tho-e who
wei"e wisest in the ])agan world, illusti'ious philosophers and learned
jurisconsults, outraging the common teeling of mankind, succeeded in
])ersuading themselves and othei's that slavery was simply a necessarv
condition of nature. Nor did they hesitate to a.s.sert that the slave
cla.ss was very inferior to the free men both in intelligence and per-
fection of Ixxlily develojiment, and thei'efore that slaves, as things
panting in reason and sense. <i»ught in all things to be the instru-
ments of the will, however i-a.-h and unwoitiiy, of their masters.
iSuch inhuman and wicked doctrines are to be speciallv detestetl ; for
when onee they are accej)te<l theie is no form of oppression .-o wicked
but that it will defend itself l»eneath some color (jf legality and ju>tice.
Hi.-tory is full of examples showing what a seed-bed of crime, what a
pest and calamity this system has l>een for states ; hatreds are excited
in the breasts of the slaves, and the ma.-ters are kept in a state of
suspicion and j)erpetual dread ; the slaves prepare to avenge them-
selves with the torches of the incendiary, and the ma.sters continue
the task of opj)re.ssion with greater cmelry. States are disturbetl
alternately l)y the number iA' the slave- and bv the violence of the
masters, and so are easily overthrown ; hence, in a W(_»id, come riot^
and seditions, pillage and fire.

The greater part of humanity weie toiling in this abvss of mi.sery,
and were the more to be pitieil because they were sunk in the dark-
ness of superstition, when in the fulness of time and by the designs
of God, light shone down uj»on the world, and the merits of Christ
the Redeemer were poured out upon mankind. By that means thev
were lifted out ot the slough and the distress of -laverv, and recalled
and l)rought back from the terrible bondage of sin to their high

* Ju.'<tinian.

6

(llp:nitv as the sons of God. Thus the apostlas, in the early days of
the i^'hurch, among other precepts for a devout life taught and laid
down the doctrine which more than once occurs in the Epistles of
St, Paul addressed to those newly baptized : " For you are all the
children of God by faith, in Jesus Christ. For as many of you as
have been baptized in Christ, have put on Christ. There is neither
Jew, nor Greek ; there is neither bond, nor free ; there is neither
male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. Where there
is neither ( lentile nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision. Barbarian
nor Scvthiun, bond nor free, liut Christ is all and in all. For in
one s[)irit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or
Gentiles, whether bond or free; and in one Spirit we have all been
made to drink." Golden words indeed, noble and wholesome lessons,
wherel)y its old dignity is given back and with increase to the human
race, and men of whatever land or tongue or class are bound together
and joined in the strong bonds of brotherly kinship. Those things
St. Paul, with that Christian charity with which he was filled, learned
from the verv heart of Him who, with such surpassing gootlness, gave
Himself to l)e the brother of us all, and in His own person, without
omitting or excepting any one, so ennobled men that they might
become [)articipators in the Divine nature. Through this Christian
charitv the various races of men v«ire drawn together under tlie
Divine guidance in such a wonderful way that they blossomed into
a new state of hope and public hajjpiness ; a.s with the progress of
time and events and the constant labor of the Church the various
nations were able to gather together. Christian and free, organized
anew after the manner of a family.

From the beginning tiie Church spared no pains to make the
Christian nations in a matter of such high importance accept antl
firmlv hoUl the true teaching of Christ and the Apostles. And now
throu"-h the new Adam, who is Christ, there is established a brotherly
union between man ami man, and people and people; just as in the
order of nature they all have a common origin, so in the order which
is alx>ve nature thev all have one and the same origin in salvation
and faith ; all alike are called to be the adopted sons of God and the
Father, Who has paid the self-same ransom for us all ; we are all
members of the same bcnly, all are allowed to partake of the same
Divine banquet, and offered to us all are the blessings of Divine
grace and of eternal life. Having estiiblisheil these principles as
beginnings and foundations, the Church, like a tender mother, went
on to try to find some alleviation for the sorrows and the disgrace of
the life of the slave ; with this end in view she clearly defined and

strongly enforced the rifrhts and mutual duties of masters and slaves
as thev are laid down in the epistles of the Apostles. It was in these
W(.rds that the Princes of the Apostles admunishetl the slaves they
had admitted to the fold of Christ. "Servants, be subject to your
masters with all tear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the
froward." " Servant'^, be obedient to them that are your lords
according to the Hesh, with tear and trembling in the simplicity (»f
your heart, as to Christ. Nt)t serving to the eye, but as the servants
of Chri-t, doing the will of God from the heart. With a good will
serving as to the Lord, and not to men. Knowing that Mhatsoever
good thing any man shall do, the same shall he receive from the
Lord, whether lie be bond or free." St. Paul says the same to
Timothy : " Whosoever are servants under the yoke, let them count
their ma>ters worthy of all honor ; lest the name of the Lord and
His doctrine be blasphemed. But they that have believing masters,
let them not des})ise them, because they are lirethren, but serve them
the rather, because they are faithful and beloved, who arc partakers
of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.'' In like manner he
commanded Titus to teach servants "to be obedient to their masters,
in all things pleai?ing, not gainsaviug. Not defrauding, but in all
things showing good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of
-Cxod our Saviour in all things." Those first disciples of'the Christian
fliith very well understood that this brotherly equality of all men in
Christ ought in no way to diminish or detract from the respect,
lionor, faithfulness, and other duties due to those place<l above tJiem.
From this many good results followed, so that duties l^ecame at once
nxire certain of being performed, and lighter and pleasanter to do,
and at the same time more fruitful in obtaining the glory of heaven.
Thus they treated their masters with reverence and honor as men
(•Idthed in the authority from \\'hom comes all power. Among these
disciples the motive of action was not the fear of punishment or any
enlightened prudence or the promptings of utility, but a consciou.-ness
of duty and the force of chai'ity. On the other hand masters were
wisely counselled by the Apostle to treat their slaves with considera-
tion in return for their services. " And y(ni, masters, do the same
things mito them, forbearing threatenings ; knowing that the Lord
both of them and you is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons
with him." They were als<i told to remember that the slave ha<l no
reasfin to regret his lot, seeing that he is "the freeman of the Lord,"
nor the freeman, seeing that he is " the bondman of Christ," to feel
proud, and to give his commands with haughtiness. It was impressed
upon masters that they ought to recognize in their slaves their fellow-

8

men, and respect them accordingly, recognizing that by nature they
were not different from themselves, that by religion and in relation
to the majesty of their common Lord all were equal. These precepts,
so well calculated to introduce harmony among various parts of
domestic society, were practice<l by the Apostles themsel^jes. Specially
remarkable is the case of St. Paul when he exerted himself in behalf
of Onesimus, the fugitive slave of Philemon, with whom, when he
returne<l him to his master, he sent this loving recommendation :
" And do thou receive him as my own bowels, not now as a servant,
but instead of a servant a most dear brother. And if he have wronged
thee in anything, or is in thy debt, put that to my account."

Whoever compares the Pagan and the Christian attitude towards
slavery, will ea.sily come to the conclusion that the one was marked
by great cruelty and wickedness, and the other by great gentleness
and humanity, nor will it be possible to deprive the Church of the
credit due to her as the instrument of this happy change. And this
becomes still more apparent when we consider carefully how tenderly
and with what prudence the (/hurch has cut out and destroyed this
dreadful curse of slavery. She has depreciited any precipitate action
in securing the manumission and liberation of the slaves, because that
would have entailed tumults and wrought injury, as well to the slaves
themselves as to the commonwealth, but with singular wisdom she lias
seen that the minds of the slaves should be instructed through her
discipline in the Christian faith, and with baptism should acquire
habits suitable to the Christian life. Therefore, when, amid the
slave multitude whom she has nimibered among her children, some,
led astray by some hope of liberty, have had recourse to violence and
sedition, the Church has always condemned these unlawful efforts
and opposed them, and through her ministers has applied the reme<ly
of patience. She taught the slaves to feel that, by virtue of the light
of holy faith, and the character they receiveil from Christ, they enjoyed
a dignity which placed them above their heathen lords, but that they
were bound the more strictly by the Author and Founder of their
faith Himself nev^er to set themselves against these, or even to be
wanting in the reverence and obedience due to them. Knowing
themselves as the chosen ones of the kingdom of God, and endowed
with the freedom of His children and called to the good things that
are not of this life, they were able to work ou without being cast
down by the sorrows and troubles of this passing world, but with
eyes and hearts turned to heaven were consoled and strengthened in
their holy resolutions. St. Peter was addressing himself specially to
slaves when he wrote : '* For this is thanksworthy, if for conscience

towards God a man endure sorrows, suffering wrongfully. For unto
this you are called ; because Christ also sutiered for us, leaving you
an example that you should follow his steps." The credit for this
solicitude joined with moderation, which in such a wonderful way
displayed the Divine powers of the Church, is increased by the
marvellous and unconquerable courage with which she was ahh to
inspire and sustain s<^ many poor slaves. It was a wonderful sight
to behold those who, in their ol)edience and the patience with which
they submittetl to every task, were such an example to their masters,
refusing to let themselves be j)ersuaded to prefer the wicked commands
of those above them to the holy law of God, and even giving up their
lives in the most cruel tortures with unconquered hearts and unclouded
brows. The ])ages of EuseV)ius keep alive lor us the memory of the
unshaken constancy of the virgin Patamiana, who rather than consent
t<j gratify the lusts of her master, fearlessly accepted death, and sealed
her faithfulness to Jesus Christ with her blood. Many other admira-
ble examples abound of slaves who, for their soul's sake and to keep
their faith with God, have resistetl their mastei-s to the death. liis-
tory has no case to show of Christfan slaves for any other cause set-
ting themselves in opposition to tlu'ir masters or joining in conspira-
<?ies against the State.

^Thence pe&cxi and quiet times having been restored to the Church,
the holy Fathers made a wise an<l admirable exposition of the Apos-
tolic precepts concerning the fraternal unanimity which should exist
between Christians, and with a like charity extended it to the advan-
tage of slaves, striving to point out that the rights of masters extended
lawfully indeed over the works of their slaves, but that their power
did not extend to using horrible cruelties against their persons.
Chrysostom stands pre-eminent among the Greeks, who often treats
of this subject, and affirms with exulting mind and tongue that
slavery, in the old meaning of the word, had at that time disap-
peared through the beneficence of the Christian faith, so that it both
seemed and was a word without any meaning among the disciples of
the L(trd. For Christ indeed (so he sums uj) his argument), when in
His great mercy to us He wi})ed away the sin contracted by our
birth, at the same time healed the manifold corruptions of human
society ; so that as death itself by His means has laid aside its terrors
and become a peaceful paasing away to a haj)j)y life, so also lias
slavery been banished. Do not then call any Christian man a slave,
unless indeed he is in bondage again to sin ; they are altogether
brethren who are born again and received in Christ Jesus ; our
advantages flow from that new birth and adoption into the household

10

of God, not from the etnincnce of our race; our dignity arises from
the praise of our truth, not of our blood; but in order that that kind
<»f evaucjelical brotherhood may have more fruit, it is necessary that
in the actions of our ordinary life there should apj^ear a willing
interchange of kindnesses and good offices, so that slaves should be
esteemed of nearly equal account with the rest of our household and
friends, and that the master of the house should supply them, not
onlv with what is necessary for their life and food, but also all neces-
sary safeguards of religion.- training. Finally, fr<^m the marked
address of Paid to Pliilt-iiKHi, bidding grace and j)eace to the church
tchich is in thy house, the pre<ept should be held in respect ecpially
by Christian masters an<l s< rvants, that they who have an intercom-
muniou of faith should also have an intercommunion of charity. Of
the Latin authors we worthily and justly call to mind St. Ambrose,
who so earnestly inquired into all that was necessary in this cause,
and so clearly ascribes what is due to each kind of man according
to the laws of Christianity, that no one has ever achieved it Ix'tter,
whose sentiments it is unnecessary to say, fully and perfectly coincide
with those of St. Chrysostom. The^e things were, as is evident,
most justly and usefully laid down ; but more, the chief point is
that they have been observcil wholly and religiously from the earliest
times wherever the profession of the Christian faith has Hourished.
Unless this had been the case, that excellent defender of religion,
Lactantius, could not have maintained it so confidently, as though a
witness of it. Shouhl any one say : Are thei'e not araong you some
poor, some rich, some slaves, some who are masteis : is there no differ-
ence between different persons f [I answer) There is none, 7ior is there
any other cause tchy we call each other by the name of brother, than
that ice consider ourselves to be erpuus ; for when we measure all human
thinf/s, not by the body but by the spirit, although their corporal candi-
tion may be different from ours, yet in spirit they are not slaves to us,
but we esteem and call them brethren , fellow workers in irligion.

The care of the Church extended to the protection of slaves, and
without interruption tended carefully to one object, that they should
finally be restored to freedom, which would greatly conduce to their
eternal welfare. That the event happily responded to these efforts,
the annals of sacreil antiquity afford abundant proof ]S'oble matrons,
rendered illustrious by the praises of Jerome, them-elves afforde<l
great aid in carrying this matter into effect; so that as Salvianus
relates, in Christian families, even though not very rich, it often
happened that the slaves were free<l by a generous manumission.
But also St. Clement long before praised that excellent work of

11

charity by which some Christians became slaves, by an exchange of
persons, becanse they could in no other way liberate those who were
in bondage. Wherefore, in addition to the fact that the act of manu-
mission l)egan to take place in churches as an act of piety, the Church
ordered it to be proposed to the faithful when about to make their
wills, as a work very pleasing to God and of great merit and value
with Him, therefore those precepts of manumission to the heir were
introduce! with the words, for the love of d'od, for fJie we/fare or
benefit of ray soul. Neither was anything grudged as the })rice of
captjves, gifts dedicate<l to God were sold, consecrated gold and silver
melted down, the ornaments and gifts of the Ijasilicas alienated, as
indeed was done more than once by Ambrose, Augustine, Hilary,
Eligius, Patrick, and many other holy men. Moreover, the Koman
Pontiffs who have always acted, as history truly relates, as the
protectors of the weak and helpers of the oppressed, have done their
best for slaves. St. (iregory himself set at liberty a> many a- jxjssi-
ble, and in the Roman Council of 597 desired those to receive their
freedom who were anxious to enter the monastic state. Hadrian I
maintained that slaves could freely enter into matrimony even with-
out their master's consent. It was clearly ordered by Alexander III
in the year 1167 to the Moorish King of Valencia that he should not
ni^e a slave of any Christian, l)ecause no one w;l'< a slave by the law
of nature, all men having been made free by God. Iiniocent III, in
the year 1190, at the prayer of its founders, John de Matha and Felix
of Valois, approved of and established the Order of the Mod Holy
Trinity for Redeeming Chrifstians who had fallen into the power of
the Turks. At a later date, Houorius III, and afterwards Gregory
IX, duly approved of the Order of Our Lndy of Mercy, founded for a
similar purpose, which Peter Xolasco had established, and which
included the severe rule that its religious should give themselves up
as slaves in the place of Christians taken captive by tyrants, if it
should be necessary in order to redeem them.

The same St. Gregory piLsscxi a Decree wliidi was a far greater
support of liberty, that it was unlawful to sell slaves to the Church,
and he further added an exhortation to the faithful that as a })unish-
ment for their faults they should give their slaves to God and His
Saints as an act of expiation. There are also many other good deeds
of the Church in the same behalf. For she indeed was accustomed
by severe penalties to defend slaves from the savage anger and cruel
injuries of their masters, to those upon whom the hand of violence
had rested, she was accustomed to open her sacred temples as places
of refuge, to receive the freed men into her good faith, and to restrain

12

those by censure who dared by evil inducements to lead a free man
back again into slavery. In the same way she was still more favor-
able to the freedom of the slaves whom by any means she held as her
own according to times and places; when^Iie laid down either that
those should be released by the Bishops from every bond of slavery
who had shown themselves during a certain time of trial of praise-
worthy honesty of life, or when she easily permitted the Bishops of
their own will to dtrlare those belonging to them free. It must also
be ascribed to the compassion and virtue of the Church, that some-
what of the pressure of civil law upon slaves was remitted, and, as
far as it was brought about, that the milder alleviations of Greg&ry
the Great having been incorporated in the written law of nations,
became of force; that however was done principally by the agency
of Charlemagne, who included them in his Capitularia, as Gratianus
afterwards did in his Decree. Finally, monuments, laws, institutions,
through a continuous series of ages, teach and splendidly demonstrate
the great love of the Church towards slaves, whose miserable condi-
tion she never left destitute of protection, and always to the best of
her power alleviated. Therefore sufficient praise or thanks can never
be returned, since she has merited it by the prosperity of nations, to
the Catholic Church, by the very great beneficence of Christ our
Redeemer, the banisher of slavery and causer of true liberty, fr^er-
nitv, and efpiality among men. Towards the end of the fifteenth
century, at which time the base stain of slavery having been nearly
blotteil out from among (liristian nations, states were anxious to
stand firmly in evangelical liberty, and also to increase their empire,
this Apostolic See took the greatest care that the evil germs of such
depravitv should nowhere revive. She therefore directed her provi-
dent vigilance to the newly discovered regions of Africji, Asia, and
America; for a report had reache<l her that the leaders of those expe-
ditions, Christians though they were, were wickedly making use of
their arms and ingenuity for establishing and imposing slavery on
these innocent nations. Indeed, since the crude nature of the soil,
which they had to overcome, nor less the wealth of metals, which
had to be extracted by digging, required very hard work, unjust and
inhuman plans were entertil into. For a certain traffic was begun,
slaves being transported for that purpose from Ethiopia, which,
at that time, under the name of The Slave-trade, too much occu-
pied those colonies. An oppression of the indigenous inhabitants
(who are universally called Indians) much the same as slavery, fol-
lowed with a like maltreatment. When Pius 1\ had become g^sured
of these matters, without delay, on Octol>er 7th, in the yearyl462, he

13

•

gave a letter to the Bishop of the place in which he reproved and
condemned such wickeilness. Some time afterwards Leo X lent, as
far as he could, his good offices and authority to the Kings of both
Portugal and Spain, wlio took care to radically extirpate that license
opposed alike to religion, humanity, and justice. Nevertheless, that
evil having grown strong remained there, its iin])ure cause, the
unquenchable desire of gain, remaining. Then Paul III, anxious
with a fatherly love as to the condition of the Indians and of the
Moorish slaves, came to this last determination, that in open day,
and, as it were in the sight of all nations, he declared that they all
had a just and natural right of a threefold character, namely, that
each one of them was master of his own person, that they could live
together under their own laws, that they could acquire and hold
proj^erty for themselves. More than this, having sent letters to the
Cardinal Archbishop of Toledo, he pronounced an interdict of Sacred
Rites against those who acte<l contrary to the aforesaid Decree, reserv-
ing to the Roman Pontiif the faculty of absolving them.

With the same forethought and constiincy. other Pontiffs at a later
period, as Urban YIII, Benedict XIV, and Pius YII, showed them-
selves strong defenders of liberty for the Indians and Blacks and those
who wtre even as yet not instructed in the Christian faith. The last
DKTteover, at the* council of the confederated Princes of Europe held
at Vienna, called their attention in common to this point, that that
traffic in Negroes of which We have spoken before, and which had
now ceased in many ])laces, should be thoroughly roote<l out. Gregory
XVI also severely censured those neglecting the duties of humanity
and the laws, and restored the decrees and statutory penalties of the
Apostolic See and left no means untried that foreign nations also,
following the kindliness of the Europeans, should cease from and
abhor the disgrace and brutalitv of slavery. But it has turned out
most fortunately for Us that We have received the congratulations of
the chief princes and rulers of public affairs for having obtained,
thanks to Our constant pleadings, some satisfaction for the long con-
tinued and most just complaints of nature and religion.

We have, however, in Our mind, in a matter of the same kin<l,
another care which gives Us no light anxiety and presses upon Our
solicitude. This shamel'ul trading in men has indeed ceased to take
place by sea, but (»n land is c^irried on to too great an extent and too
barbarously, and that especially in some parts of Africa. For it
having been perversely laid down by the Mohammedans that Ethio-
pians and men of similar nations are very little superior to brute
beastij, it is easy to see and shudder at the perfidy and cruelty of

14

•

man. Siidflenly, like plunderers making an attack, they invade the
tribes of Ethiopians expecting no such thing, they rush into their vil-
lages, houses and huts, they lay waste, destroy and seize everything,
they lead away from thence the men, women, and children easilv
captured and bound, so that they niav drag them away bv force for
their shameful traffic. These hateful expeditions are made into
Egypt, Zanzibar, and partly also into the Soudan as though so many
stations ; men bound with chains are forced to take long journeys, ill
supj)lied with food, under the frecjuent use of the lash ; those who
are too weak to undergo this are killed, those who are strong enough
go like a flock with a crowd of others to be sold and to be passed
over to a brutal and shameless purchaser. But whoever is thus sold
and given up is exposed to what a misenible rending asunder of
wives, children, and parents and is driven by him into whose power he
falls into a hard and indescribable slavery, nor can he refuse to con-
form to the religious rights of Mahomet. These things We have
received not long since with the greatest bitterness of feeling from
some who have been eye witnesses, though tearful ones, of that kind of
infamy and misery, with these moreov^er what has been relaterl lately
by the explorers in equatorial Africa entirely coincides. It is indeed
manifest by their testimony and word, that each year four hundred
thousand Africans are usually thus sold like cattle, about the half of
whom, wearied out by the roughness of the tracks, fall down and
perish there ; so that, sad to relate, those travelling through such
places see the pathway strewn with the remains of bones. — Who
would not be niovetl by tiie thought of such miseries? We, indce<i,
who bear the person of Christ, the loving liberator and Reileemer of
all mankind, and who so rejoice in the many and glorious gootl deeds
of the Church to all who are afflicted, can scarcely express ht w great
is Our commiseration for those unhappy nations, with what fulness
of charity We open Our arms to them, how ardently We desire to be
able to atford them every alleviation and support, with the ho{>e,
that, having cast off' the slavery of suj)erstition as well as the slavery
of man, they mav at length serve the one true God under the gentle
yoke of Christ, partakers with us of the Divine inheritance." Would
that all who hold high positions in empires or states, or who desire
the rights of nations and of humanity to be held sacre<l, or who ear-
nestly devote themselves to the interests of the Catholic religion,
would all, everywhere, acting on Our cxliortations and wishes, strive
together to repress, forl)id, and put an end to that kind of traffic,
than which nothing is more base and wicketl. In the meantime,
while by a more strenuous application of ingenuity and labor new

15

roads are being made, and new commercial enterprises undertaken in
the lands of Africa, let apostolic men endeavor to find out how they
can best secure the safety and liberty of slaves. They will obtain
success in this matter in no other way than if, strengthened by divine
grace, they give themselves up to spreading Our most holy faith and
daily caring for it, whose distinguisliing fruit is that it wonderfully
favors and develops the liberty uyith which Christ vuide us free. We
therefore advise them to look as if into a mirror of apostolic virtue,
at the life and Morks of St. Peter Claver, to whom We have lately
added a crown of glory ; let then] look at him who, for fully forty
years gave himself up to minister with the greatest constancy in his
labors, to a most miserable assembly of Negro slaves, truly he ought
t(» be calle<.l the apostle of those whose constant servant he professes!
himself and gave himself up to be. If they endeavor to take to
themselves and reflect the charity and patience of such a man, they
will shine indeed as worthy ministers of salvation, authors of conso-
lation, messengers of ])eace, who, by God's help, may turn solitude,
desolation, and fierceness into the most joy fid fertility of religion and
civilization.

And now, Venerable Brethren, Our thoughts and letters desire to
turn to you thatAVe may again announce to you and again share with
yoiKtiie exceeding joy which We feel on account of the determinations
which have been publicly entered into in that empire with regard to
slavery. If indeed it seemed to Us a good, happy, and propitious
event, that it was provided and insistal upon by law that whoever
were still in the condition of slaves ought to be admitted to the status
and rights of free men, so also it confirms and increases Our hope of
future acts which will be the cause of joy, both in civil and religious
matters. Thus the name of the Emperor of Brazil will be justly
held in honor and praise among the most civilized nations, and the
name of its august Emperor will like\vi>e i)e esteemed whose excellent
speech is on record, that he desired nothing more ardently than that
every vestige of slavery should be speedily obliterated from his ter-
ritories. But truly, until those precepts of the laws are carried into
effect, earnestly endeavor. We beseech you, by all means, and press
on as much as possil)le the accomplishment of this affair, which no
light difficulties hinder. Through your means let it be brought to
pass that masters and slaves may mutually agree with the highest
goodwill and best good faith, nor let there be any transgression of
clemency or justice, but whatever things have to be carried out let
all be done lawfully, temperately, and in a Christian manner; it is,
however, chiefly to be wished that this may be prosperously accom-

16

plished, which all desire, that slavery may be banished and blotted
out without any injury to divine or human rights, with no agitation
of the State, and so with the solid benefit of the slaves themselves,
for whose sake it is undertaken. To each one of these, whether they
have already been made free or are about to become so, We address
with a pastoral intention and fatherly mind a few salutary cautions
culled from the words of the great Apostle of the Gentiles. Let
them then endeavor piously and constantly to retain a grateful mem-
ory and feeling towards those In* whose council and exertion they
were set at liberty. Let them never show themselves unworthy of
so great a gift nor ever confound liberty with license; but let them
use it as becomes well ordered citizens for the industry of an active
life, for the benefit and advantage both of their family and of the
State. To respect and increase the dignity of their princes, to obey
the magistrates, to be obedient to the laws, these and similar duties
let them diligently fulfil, under the intluence, not so much of fear
as of religion ; let them also restrain and keep in subjection envy of
another's wealth or position, which unfortunately daily distresses so
many of those in inferior positions, and presents so many incitements
of rebellion against security of order and peace. Content with their
state and lot, let them think nothing dearer, let them desire nothing
more ardently than the good things of the heavenly kingdom by
whose grace they have lx?en brought to the light and redeemed by
Christ ; let^ them feel piously towards God Who is their Lord anci
LiV)erator ; let them love Him with all their power ; let them k* jp
His commandments with all their might; let them rejoice in be g
sons of His spouse, the Holy Church ; let them lalxjr to be as g( d
as possible, and as much as they can let them carefully return His 1 .e.

Do you also, Venerable Brethren, be constant in showing nd
urging on tlie freedmen these same doctrines ; that, that whicn is
Our chief prayer, and at the same time ought to be yours and that of
all good people, religion, amongst the first, may ever feel that ' le h s
gaine<l the most ample fruits of that liberty which has been ( ..taint d
wherever that empire extends.

But that that may happilv take place, We beg and imr.lore tl e
full grace of God and motherly aid of the Immaculate Virgin. As
a foretaste of Heavenly gifts and witness of Our fatherly goodwi 1
towards you, Veneral)le Brethren, y(»ur clergy, and all your peoplt ,
We lovingly impart the Apostolic Benediction.

Given at St. Peter's at Rome, ^Liy 5th, in the year 1888. The
Eleventh of Our Pontificate.

LEO PP. XIII.