Writings

[1434]
I accept with great interest and gratitude the most honourable title that you have had the kindness to confer on me in the Institute of Africa, this Institution of eminent charity which was inspired at the foot of Calvary.
[1435]
Trained for the apostolate of Africa and consecrated until death for the regeneration of the black race, for which I have worked for 18 years, I am glad to be an Honorary Member of the African Institute and I hope to succeed with my small efforts in responding to the generous and noble aims it proposes. I was most interested to read the Annals which you were good enough to send me and I am convinced that this great Institution which France has created to promote the regeneration of that most abandoned and neglected part of the world will succeed in inciting the whole universe to contribute to the redemption of the Africans. With its constancy and admirable dedication, it will also succeed in reaching the eminently philanthropic and humanitarian goal it has set itself. This is why I am proud to be able to respond, in my small capacity, to its noble plans, and I will endeavour all my life to contribute to this great Work by doing my part.
[1436]
Since I have travelled over a large part of central Africa and the coasts where I thoroughly studied the African race, where I witnessed the abuse inflicted on humanity, and where I have not infrequently had a small part in obstructing the slave-trade, I hope that when I have some time free of the many tasks that still burden me, I shall be able to give you some most interesting information about inland Africa and how to achieve the abolition of slavery and Africa’s civilisation. May I therefore be permitted to suggest three members who for many years have given their strength, talent, influence and support for the good of Africa
[1437]
These are their names:
1. Mr Goffredo Umberto Nöcker, curate of S. Giacomo in Cologne, (Rhineland Prussia), president of the committee of the Society for the redemption and education of poor young Africans and founder of a large Institute for the poor in Cologne;
2. Mr Martino Stickern, a medical doctor, very highly educated, who was one of the most courageous founders of this useful Society for the education of Africans, and who, in his capacity as secretary and then committee member, is one of the most powerful promoters in Cologne;
3.Mr Giovanni Crisostomo Mitterrutzner, Canon Regular of the Lateran of the Order of St Augustine, a member of the Academy of the Catholic Religion in Rome, a member of various scientific societies, doctor in Theology, a real polyglot and professor in Bressanone (German Tyrol), where he lives. This venerable man who has rare gifts and to whom Africa is indebted for immense services, and on which he has made in-depth studies, has collected considerable sums to sustain the Mission in Central Africa. He has supplied it with more than 20Missionaries and craftsmen. He has also compiled and published in Bressanone, from the manuscripts we sent him, two large volumes on the two main languages of central Africa which were absolutely unknown to the sciences. These are:
1. A dictionary, grammar and catechism in the Bari language (spoken between the 5th and 1st degree, Latitude North).
2. A dictionary, grammar, catechism and St Luke’s Gospel in the Dinka tongue, which is spoken by 16 tribes who live between the 13th and 5th degree, Latitude North, on the White Nile. With this important work, Mr Mitterrutzner has provided Missionaries of Africa with the necessary material with which to exercise their apostolic ministry on a large scale in the vast expanse between the 13th and 5th degree of Latitude North.
I am sure that since these three worthy persons are deeply enthusiastic about Africa, they will most willingly agree to be members of the African Institute, and will be greatly encouraged to pursue their noble undertakings. They will respond powerfully to the great humanitarian goal of the African Institute. I therefore beg you to grant them the grace you have been good enough to grant me.

[1438]
I thank you very much for the honour you have granted me. I assure you that as I have lived for Africa alone, I shall die for Africa alone. I take the liberty of sending you the programme of the Association which I have just founded for the Regeneration of Africa in Italy.

Fr Daniel Comboni


(Translated from the French)

[1439]
At this point I have received the book and your dear letter of the 20th of this month from S. Pietro Incariano di Valpolicella (I live at S. Pietro Incarnario in Verona). The very day that you passed through Verona, I received the book of the Bari: but I was never informed either that you were to pass through Verona or that you had given notice of your visit. I called on Fr Tomba and Fr Beltrame almost every evening during those days. Indeed I told Fr Beltrame that I hoped you would come to Verona; but he never told me that you were coming through Verona on 31st July. If I had known it, not only would I have come to Porta Vescovo; but I would certainly have persuaded you to stay a while in Verona to talk about Africa with the Bishop, or I would have accompanied you on part of the journey as far as Venice. Fr Beltrame has so much to do and is so devoted to the women’s Institute that he certainly forgot to tell me. And then that evening, calculating that you would have gone to Venice to rummage in some manuscript, I wrote to you there poste restante.
[1440]
I have had a letter from our dear Kirchner, who invited me to Innsbruck where I would have met you and Jeram. I assure you that I was tempted to go: but I really did not have time. Since the Superiors of the Convents of Beuerberg and Seligenthal have begged me to accept three African girls, it is not improbable that instead of having them brought to Verona, it is I who will go to fetch them. It is therefore not unlikely that I will go to Brixen. I am saying this not because I have decided on it, but because I might. Any way, what will be will be.
[1441]
Kirchner has no hope at all in the success of my activities for Africa. But, dear friend, I want to try every possible way. My Plan has been approved by a large number of Bishops and by the Archbishop Vicar Apostolic of Egypt. The step I took to establish two Institutes in Cairo has been approved by the above-mentioned Apostolic Delegate and by Propaganda. Little by little progress is being made. I am therefore trying every way. If I do not succeed in anything, God will be satisfied with my good intentions. It is true, I spare no efforts, nor journeys, nor my life to succeed in the enterprise. I will die with Africa on my lips. A cloud of crosses has fallen on my head: but I am more inspired than ever. After having made two inspections in my female Institute, the Government gave me to understand that I should move my Sisters within 24 hours, one is from Paris, the other from Rome. After consulting the Bishop, I have sent them to Rome, postulants and all. Fiat!
[1442]
Mgr Kirchner writes to me that the Society of Mary has been dissolved. Could this be true? I would be very sorry, because no Society has helped the Missions as much as that one. Please find out about it for me. I thank you very much for the offer you have made me of 40 francs. If Cavaliere Napoli has not sent this precious donation to Egypt, I would like him to send it to me here in Verona. If you think this is possible, please write to him.
[1443]
Let me tell you something: I would like it not to reach the ears of the Superiors in Bavaria who have offered me the African girls. If I receive them I will oblige those Sisters to pay the African girls’ journey as far as Cairo. Now I wrote a letter on 19th August to Marchese Moustier, Minister of Foreign Affairs in France to obtain a free passage on the French steamers as far as Alexandria. What a miracle! The Minister, in a dispatch sent to me on the 6th by the Minister Lavalette, granted me a free passage as far as Alexandria for 24 persons on the Imperial Messagerie; and from Marseilles, if I want to leave immediately, or from Civitavecchia if I wait for the time when there is no more cholera in Messina, where French boats do not call in at present.
[1444]
Moreover, by a deliberation of the Superior Council, on 2 September I was named V. President d’honneur de l’Institut d’Afrique. Since the goal of this World Society whose president is the Duke of Acquaviva and which has members all over the world, is to abolish the trade in Africans and to bring civilisation to Africa, this can be useful to me: and since I saw that many Bishops and Cardinals are members, I accepted. I would like the Institut d’Afrique to appoint you too and I shall therefore write to the President. However, you will need to send a copy of the two grammars, etc., Bari and Dinka, and a few other writings of yours on Africa. This could be useful to Africa. One of these days I will write. Here is something else I want to ask you.
[1445]
Since I must now make such an important expedition, would there be any Societies in Germany which from which I can request funds? There is that of Salzburg, the Leopoldina in Vienna, and that of S. Lodovico in Munich. Couldn’t you study a way of getting money out of these societies? I commend myself to you. My good Bishop protects me morally, but all the expenses both in Verona as well as all that are incurred for Africa, must be covered by me. But I trust in Providence for me, for the Mazza Institute and for Africa.
[1446]
The Delegate of Egypt told me that Fra. Giuseppe Habachy P. Bonaventura is in Jerusalem. It seems that he behaved badly in Egypt too, and that the Vicar Apostolic has confined him to Palestine. I would like to be properly informed to see later how he can be used for Central Africa. Just as I was able to procure 4 good Camillians destined by the Pope to accompany me to Cairo, in time I will be able to do as much with Habachy, and much more easily, since he is African. Cogita et loquere. I have written to Jeram to ask him for his usual small contribution; but this time he has not answered me. Could you be kind enough to put in a word yourself. D.ne adiuva me. A thousand greetings to the angel of Brixen S.A.M. Gasser, et tibi mille et mille

ex Tuissimo

Fr Daniel Comboni

Gratias pro Opuscolo Coloniensi

[1447]
After Mgr Ciurcia, with his letter written to the Bishop of Verona, formally agreed to the foundation in Cairo of two small Institutes destined to prepare candidates for the Apostolate in Central Africa, I directly addressed the Minister of Foreign Affairs in France to obtain a free passage with the Messaggerie for all my African girls, Sisters and a few Missionaries. His Excellency Minister Lavalette, in charge per interim of the Foreign Portfolio, on the order of Minister Moustier, granted me a free passage for 24 people to Alexandria, with a venerable dispatch from Paris of the 6th of this month. Since perhaps the number of members of my forthcoming expedition will not be as many as 24, I therefore make available to you, should you please to accept them, all the places that are not occupied by my caravan. I thought that my humble suggestion could be useful to some Sisters or Missionaries who did not have the fortune of a free passage to Egypt.
[1448]
Three of my African girls, the best I have, who are now staying in the famous Convent of the Viperesche, in a letter dictated or certainly inspired by those Nuns vision… have just declared to me that for quite some time they have decided to become religious; and therefore they refuse to go to Egypt with the others. After I had consulted the Bishop as the head of the Work, and the Superior of the Mazza Institute who was their immediate Rector for 13 consecutive years and since I am so familiar with the black race in general and with those good African girls in particular, I decided not to allow this for a great many weighty reasons, and I trust that I shall find support and help in your Eminence, should I meet with troublesome difficulties on any side or for any reason. Hucusque satis…
May Your Eminence deign to accept the respectful greetings of my venerable Bishop, and of him who has the honour to kiss your sacred Cardinal’s robe, and to sign with all reverence,

Your Eminence’s
humble son in Jesus Christ,

Fr Daniel Comboni

[1449]
The negative answer from Conte Vimercati caused me no pain. Ever loving Providence has arranged things in such a way that our Work is safe. Threats, battles, and trials, show it to be a Work of God.
[1450]
We have the four Camillians at our total disposal. Fr Zanoni, the oldest, is a precious gift of the Lord. The Superior of the Canossian Sisters will do all she can to provide three Sisters, and she has decided to put into practice the plan to establish the Missionary section in the Mother House. With the Missionaries, Sisters, and African girls, here we are, two houses in Cairo. Since our Work is already active in Egypt, we are in a safe harbour. Even if for a few years we only have Fr Dalbosco and a lay man in Verona, the ship is in full sail. With a small portion of the cheque from Cologne, and with the proceeds the Association already has, Fr Dalbosco is living and working for the development of the Work, while I, once back from Egypt, will take care to provide the means, and promote the foundation of the pious Association in the various Dioceses. It is essential to stop by Cologne, where I suspect that Mgr Vicegerent has attempted some machination. As the head of the Work, it is right that Your Excellency be assured of everything. I have prepared you a letter for the President. It is on your table.
[1451]
The necessary sum has just been made available for me by 240 Members. The procedures undertaken by the pious Princess Maria Assunta to form the council in Rome and to increase its members among the top families and prelates, Eminent Cardinal de Pietro’s joining, the positive hopes in Spain, the 1500 francs designated for me to accompany three African girls from Bavaria to Egypt, the very comforting correspondence of the Association, etc., etc., all this calls for the Council of the pious Association to be formed without delay.
[1452]
In Rome the holy girls have unleashed a fierce fight against me…underhand tricks, cheating, lies, suggestions of guilt… When truth and justice have been attacked, they have always triumphed. I have a steadfast trust in that God for whom I have exposed and expose my life, act, suffer and will die. I believe that Fra Girolamo is lost to us, misled and deceived by those women… Fiat! He wrote me a scandalous letter. The spirit of pure humility, charity, reverence and moderation have governed my relations with the Vicegerent, as a true priest must deal with a Bishop. With him I used the loyalty of a true friend, of one who is grateful to his benefactor. But I fear that the opinion of the venerable Fr Fradin and the Bishop of Poitiers is true: that that lass is possédée quelques fois par le Diable, and that she sometimes conveys his spirit to the Superior and to Monsignor Vicegerent. God’s goodness will certainly deliver me from this trial that is so hard and so horrible. The Queen of Africa will help me.
[1453]
Besides, courage Monsignor; the rejections, the battles, the crosses, they all show that our Work is utterly God’s. The mustard seed has been sown: and it has to sprout among troubles and thorns. It will grow among the buffering and the waves of persecution; but it will always produce abundant fruit in the field of the Church, because the divine farmer will safeguard it and cover it with the shield of his protection. I trust absolutely in Jesus, and in your rectitude, wisdom and constancy, my most revered Father. Si Deus pro nobis… It is urgent that I leave for Africa, and that your Excellency spend some time deciding and arranging for developments of the Work. I kiss your sacred hand with all my heart.

Fr Daniel Comboni

[1454]
I would have immediately obeyed your orders as soon as I received in Verona the order of Your Excellency and of the Superior to come to Rome to fetch the African girls, had I had the money for me and for the girls to make the journey. Instead, I had to sweat and toil and go to Germany to procure the means. As soon as I had succeeded, I left Verona immediately to come to Rome. When I arrived in Terni I had to turn back because of the wicked intrigues of the Garibaldini, who have cut the roads and communications with Rome: I returned to Florence, and at last, via Orbetello and Montalto I managed to enter Rome. I spent all day yesterday finding a way of leaving the Pontifical States with the African girls, and dealing with urgent matters that could not be delayed. And this morning I came to your house with a sincere desire to kiss your hand, settle our accounts, and establish, according to your venerable wishes, the departure of all twelve African girls: but to my disappointment I did not have the fortune to find you because you were absent from the noble city until evening.
[1455]
Since this evening you will be tired and will find other matters to do with your most important ministry and since I do not think it prudent to go out at night in these disastrous times, I beg you to be kind enough to prepare in writing the things we have to deal with in our accounts, for tomorrow morning when I will be happy to call on Your Excellency, and also to agree on when you will allow me to fetch all the girls from the convent. As I assure you of my veneration and gratitude, I respectfully kiss your hands, and declare myself,

Your Most Reverend Excellency’s
humble and devoted servant,

Fr Daniel Comboni

[1456]
I must beg you, who have had such goodness and patience for the love of Africa, to crown your generous initiative by writing another letter, either to the Pope or to Cardinal Patrizi, Vicar of His Holiness, to implore him to order Mgr Vicegerent to have the three African girls who say they want to be nuns handed over to me. Write a letter on this subject like the one you wrote to Barnabò. It was Cardinal Barnabò who told me to do this. Indeed, this Cardinal (who has directed me in all the steps I have had to take) has urged me to telegraph and to write since the 28th of last month. But the breakdown of the telegraph and the railways has prevented me. And why, Your Excellency will answer me, does the Bishop of Verona have to write to the Cardinal Vicar or to the Pope, on a subject about which Cardinal Barnabò has already written?…
[1457]
I answer: just as in Rome everyone is jealous of his own jurisdiction, they are just as sensitive about encroaching on the jurisdictions of others. The Superior of the Vicegerent is the Pope, and the Cardinal Vicar. Barnabò is everything for us and for our Mission: but knowing the mind of the Vicegerent, (these are his words), and since I am judging,… etc. I tell you to apply directly to the Cardinal Vicar and to the Pope, and at the same time, to write to the Bishop of Verona, the master of the African girls, because he is the Head of the Association, imploring him to write or telegraph to the Pope or to the Cardinal Vicar immediately, so that all the African girls are handed over to you.
[1458]
This fact proved the wisdom of Barnabò’s advice. Cardinal Patrizi and the Pope answered my first petition, inviting me to discuss it with the Vicegerent. But how is it possible to deal with the Vicegerent when he refuses to receive me? I have gone there more than 20 times, and 20 times he has refused to receive me. I have been to the Convent, and the Superior refuses to receive me, and only once showed me the African girls.
[1459]
In brief, in the beginning six African girls wrote to Cardinal Barnabò telling him that they absolutely did not want to come with me. Then a priest sent by the Vicegerent presented himself and declared that the African girls did not want to come with me for just reasons… The Cardinal persisted in urging me to claim all the African girls… At last nine, by force it could be said, succeeded in leaving the convent and coming to me. I settled them with the Sisters of St Joseph, whose Institute is under the patronage of Cardinal Barnabò. The Superior of this illustrious convent took the African girls to the Cardinal and they testified:
1. That the Superior of the Convent where they had been previously (the Signora Marianna) assured the African girls that Fr Comboni did not have either a house nor money to support them in Egypt.
2. That Fr Comboni is a madman, that they should not trust him, that he is all talk and is capricious.
3. That Fr Comboni is a thief, and that he proceeds by appropriating the things of others.
4. That he is a monster of ingratitude to Monsignor Vicegerent, etc.
On the basis of these notions, the poor terrified African girls, after being advised by the Nuns, wrote to the Cardinal. It seems that the three who wanted to be Nuns had written about it to the Pope.

[1460]
The Cardinal absolutely ordered me not leave until I have the other three. The nine African girls are happy and contented, and assure me that the other three do not have vocations, but were beguiled by the Nuns. These same girls told me and assure me that Girolamo Manfrini lives in the Convent, that for one month he slept at night in the Enclosure in the room where Your Excellency was received, and from 12th October he has been sleeping on the second floor, still in the Enclosure, in a room close to the Nuns. I am so sorry about this young man who was so good when with the Stigmatines and with us.
[1461]
So Monsignor, write at once, instantly to the Holy Father enclosing the open letter to His Eminence the Cardinal Vicar. This is the best way. Patience, my venerable and beloved Father. If you knew what I have suffered here in Rome, your good heart would be deeply moved. That God wants the Work is a good argument with the Most Eminent Barnabò. Poor Mgr Vicegerent, who is determined to destroy everything, and has tried all the tricks, cunning, slander, lies and machinations against me, I fear that it will fare rather badly for him; and I am convinced that something good will come of it for the Work, because of the interest the Cardinal is taking in it. Having told the Cardinal everything, I let myself be guided by him. And thanks be to heaven, I am happy. We have a great Protector, although I fear he will not give me any money immediately.
[1462]
As for the Protestant woman, who was with the African girls for three months, she has now joined the novitiate of the Ursulines of Ripetta, and is doing pretty well: remember Monsignor, that she made her abjuration into your hands at the Madonna del Popolo. I am pleased because I have had news from Fr Zanoni in Marseilles. A person for whom you have esteem was present and heard it all: when the Vicegerent told Vimercati not to give anything to the Bishop of Verona because…(I shall tell you this in person or another time in a circumlocution). A thousand respects to Marchese Ottavio and family.

Your obedient son,

Fr Daniel Comboni

[1463]
Your Excellency knows that at the end of last May, when you kindly offered me the interest-free loan of 1,500 scudi, and I accepted your courteous favour, at your request I wrote a formal promissory note in which I declared I had received from your Reverend Excellency the said sum with the obligation to pay it back when the pious Association was well established. Since you had assured me that you would give me this money, the following day in the Convent of the Viperesche, I, full of trust in your loyalty, put the said promissory note into your hands.
[1464]
You also know what Your Reverend Excellency said on the appointed day when I went to the above-mentioned Convent to receive the agreed sum, in the presence of two Nuns who are resident in the Viperesche Convent: one was the present Superior, Sr Maria Angelica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (who, at Puys in the Diocese of Poitiers, as Novice Mistress at the Institute of the Daughters of the Cross I believe was called Sr Maria Serafina and in Verona, Marianna Borie) and the other was Sr Serafina dell’Ostia (who when she was a Sister of the Daughters of the Cross was called Sr Maria Angelica I think, and in Verona was known by the name of Teresa De Angelis); Your Reverend Excellency, I was saying, told me that it was the will of God that I should not receive any money.
[1465]
And as I stated that either the money should be given to me or my promissory note should be returned, while the Sister known as Maria Serafina dell’Ostia or Teresa De Angelis held on to the money that Your Excellency had taken to the convent to give to me, you explicitly said that I would never have or receive the said sum and that only these two Nuns would have it, and Your Reverend Excellency assured me that it was the absolute will of God that I should not receive money (because, Your Reverend Excellency told me, it is not she, SrM. Serafina dell’Ostia, who is speaking, but the Holy Child). Seeing that I was not going to be given either the money nor obtain my promissory note, I held my peace only (and I will say, also with conviction) after the promise you made me that, on our arrival in Verona, the money would be delivered to the most worthy Bishop Canossa, who would arrange things to the contentment and satisfaction of us all.
[1466]
You likewise know that since I have never received the sum mentioned in my promissory note, after Mgr Canossa had informed Your Reverend Excellency of the need and the duty incumbent upon you either to return the said promissory note or to let me have the equivalent sum, Your Reverend Excellency answered me that I would never be embarrassed or inconvenienced with regard to the said promissory note. So that in the final analysis I obtained neither the money nor the promissory note. Given these things, as Your Reverend Excellency or I myself might die, and as you or your heirs on the basis of the said promissory note could claim from me or my heirs the payment of the sum mentioned in the said promissory note of mine, a sum that I never received; I respectfully appeal to Your Reverend Excellency’s conscience begging you to immediately return the said promissory note, to the address of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition in Piazza Margana, or to send me, to the same address, a formal declaration in writing that Your Excellency has torn up my promissory note.
[1467]
Until now, out of respect for Your Reverend Excellency and because of your past kindnesses and courtesies tome, I have not claimed my right with the competent authorities, and I have not made this matter officially known. But I find myself obliged to warn you that if within two days Your Reverend Excellency has not returned my document and will not meet my demand, I shall be constrained in spite of myself to take legal action with regard to this warning ad litteram, making a written statement at the Offices of the competent authorities here in Rome.
[1468]
Then with regard to the peaceful resolution of our financial dealings, that is, of the money you require from me for sums given to me for printing and other small things and for objects in my possession which belong to you, and with regard to the financial compensation which I justifiably demand from you for the very serious damage suffered by me through the hindrance caused by Your Reverend Excellency in culpably preventing my departure at the due time, as respectable persons can clearly observe (if agreement has not been reached through our lawyers, Mr Nuvoli and Alfonsi, as has occurred until now), I submit myself totally to the judgement of three ecclesiastical persons chosen by us, either from the Vicariate of Rome or from the Holy Congregation of Bishops and Regulars.
[1469]
Lastly, with regard to the three African girls whom Your Reverend Excellency persists in not wishing to hand over to me, I hereby inform you that I shall not leave Rome until they have been handed over to me, since this is the absolute will of my venerable Bishop, the Head of the African Work, and the advice of most prudent and highly placed persons of the Church of God. As I renew to you the expression of my sincere gratitude and respect, I kiss your sacred robes, declaring myself

Your Very Reverend Excellency’s humble and obedient servant,


Fr Daniel Comboni,
Apostolic Missionary of Central Africa

[1470]
Every day, the Lord in his infinite mercy provides ever greater reasons so that we may know that our African Work is all his. The battle instigated against it by the Vicegerent and his two little blessed souls was a terrible and infernal attempt to destroy it. The Lord guided me admirably ensuring that I did not ever take a step without the advice of Cardinal Barnabò. I took important steps to defend myself and my cause in the issue with the Vicegerent and the Work. This wonderfully contributed to earning Cardinal Barnabò’s full affection, support and protection. Yesterday he spoke to Cardinal De Pietro about me and the Work in the most favourable terms.
[1471]
While the Vicegerent, guided by those he thinks are inspired by God (and not by his heart which is good in itself) could have done great evil, instead, he has done great good. I first thank God, and then my venerable Bishop, whose credit and name and whose last letter (which Cardinal Barnabò had me copy in beautiful script to present it yesterday evening to the Holy Father) was prominent in getting the African girls, and in showing me my valid support. Trust in God, Monsignor, and in my proper diligence; trust that I hope I will not make mistakes, be they few or small, which could jeopardise the Work and your effective and necessary help with it.
[1472]
Crosses are inevitable; there will always be enemies aroused by the dragon in the abyss. We shall have much suffering to go through. But God, his grace, and the Immaculate Virgin will suffice for all and will always be with us. Little by little, I shall write the tale of the heaviest cross which I had to bear in Rome: you will be surprised and astonished. I have no words to thank the Lord. Yesterday I was called for example to the criminal court of the Vicariate of Rome and on the advice of Cardinal Barnabò, I went there disposed not to comply with the order to leave Rome immediately: when I arrived there (the previous evening I had written a decisive letter to the Vicegerent) since the judge had recognised an abuse of power and perhaps because he was convinced that there were false premises, he asked my forgiveness, telling me that there had been a misunderstanding, and sent me away with full honours. With Cardinal Barnabò’s complete approval, I sent the letter summoning me to appear at that court to the Pope. But enough about this for the time being.
[1473]
I thank you for the letter to Cardinal De Pietro. Do what he answered you ad litteram, because as I found out these are the usual bureaucratic procedures. De Pietro will be and is a valid protector. Today I received the letter written by Fr Zanoni to Cardinal De Pietro, and telegraphed immediately to Marseilles. Two hours later I received another letter from the same Father, and sent another telegram to Marseilles, authorising Zanoni to take a letter of mine from Cologne containing a letter of credit for 3,000 francs and to cash it for this sum. Only this morning did the telegraph start working between Rome and France over the Naples line. The telegraph had never worked until this morning. Letters used to take 9 days. How anxious those poor Fathers must have been! But God wanted it thus. Fiat! Not a single day went past without seeking news at the post and telegraph office. Imagine my anxiety.
[1474]
Cardinal Barnabò will write to you after my departure. The most devout and good Princess has been very busy finding members and composing the Council of the Good Shepherd Association in Rome. She wants to try to have Mgr Franchi, Archbishop of Thessalonica, be its President. He is just back in Rome from England. If he does not accept, she has another personality in view. In sum, the Association will take root in Rome, and this will contribute to its taking root in other dioceses.
[1475]
I hope to leave very, very soon, because I hope the three African girls will very soon be given to me. I wrote to Fr Zanoni that I will leave on Monday. In any case, could Your Excellency please be so kind as to write to the Holy Father just the same. If I already have custody of the African girls, it will be a further proof to the Holy Father that he did well in answering my plea.
A thousand respects from Barnabò, Antonelli, Pacifici, Monaco, Vimercati (who assured me he would give…). Has Fr Dalbosco returned to Verona? A thousand respects to Marchese Ottavio, etc. I kiss your robes

Your obedient Fr D. Comboni