Writings

[4331]
Thank you for the wishes you sent me for my name-day. Pray for me very much everyday. My affairs are going very well, but they are rather lengthy.
Your brother, whom I saw today, is very well. He told me that he wants to pay for your mud-baths at Abano, although I would have wanted to do that. In any case, by now you will be at Abano. For whatever you may need, especially money, write to me by return post and I will send it all to you by return.

[4332]
You always tend to economise; but your skin is worth more than any money. So in Abano, first of all have the doctor examine you and pay him, then let him tell you what to do and take a complete cure; and if you are short of cash, write to me.
I had written to Grandfather to go with you to Recoaro too, but yesterday he wrote to me saying that he has great difficulty in getting out and about. The Princess, Madam Brown, sends greetings to you and your brother, to whom I gave your letter which had just arrived last night.
I send you this letter via Fr Paolo who, having recovered from smallpox, is going to Verona, and Fr Squaranti is coming to Rome.
Your most affectionate

Father Daniel

[4333]
I have just received the letter from our dear Sr Caterina, who tells me that she too is sick. I am most afflicted by this, but I shall pray until the good Lord cures her completely. Please give my regards to Sr Caterina.
Fr Silvestro told me that in Pau you wish to see Queen Margherita, the niece of the king, Comte de Chambord, and the wife of Don Carlos. To this effect, I have written a letter to this holy princess who is the sister-in-law of Maria Immacolata, asking her to receive you as you deserve to be received. I am leaving the letter to the Queen open: read it and then seal it. When you reach Pau it would be good if you went early to the princess’s palace and asked the staff at what time the Queen will receive you. There you will present my letter for it to be shown to the Queen so that she may read it before she receives you and so that she may know who you are. She will receive you after lunch.

[4334]
Farewell, dear Mother, the Sisters I saw this morning are well. My affairs are proceeding very well, despite the Camillians’ efforts to destroy me and to take my Vicariate. But I have given them what they deserve. Next August there will be the General Congregation and I believe that by the end of September I will be consecrated Bishop. This is between us.
Pray for
Your most affectionate

Daniel Comboni
Pro-Vicar Apostolic of Central Africa


Translated from French.

[4335]
In my littleness I make so bold as to write you these few lines to send Your Eminence my profound esteem and my humble, respectful congratulations on the most felicitous fiftieth anniversary of your episcopate, in which Your Most Reverend Eminence gave lustre to the Church of Jesus Christ, consecrating it with the most sublime examples of the most signal Episcopal virtues. On the 6th of next month I shall therefore have pleasure in celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of Mass over the tomb of St Peter, Prince of the Apostles for Your Most Reverend Eminence’s prosperity, imploring the heavens with all my fervour to preserve your precious life for the glory and honour of the Church and the comfort of all the good Catholics in the world, who find in the longevity of Your Eminence’s episcopate and in the glorious long pontificate of our Holy Father Pius IX, a brilliant proof of the protection with which God watches over his Church.
[4336]
Your Eminence may perhaps not remember your humble servant. But in Central Africa, several times have I prayed with my Missionaries for Your Most Reverend Eminence, who has remained in my mind associated with the idea of Pius IX. At the recommendation of the Bishop of Verona, I had the honour of visiting you in Turin and several times kissed your Sacred Purple here in Rome.
May Your Eminence deign to grant your holy blessing to the one who has pleasure in remaining in the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
Your Most Reverend Eminence’s most humble, respectful and devoted servant

Daniel Comboni
Pro-Vicar Apostolic of Central Africa

[4337]
It is with great emotion that I received your venerable letter dated the 6th and I also received the magnificent cheque which the two Councils of Lyons and Paris voted for my immense Vicariate. Words fail me to thank you properly for your eminent charity and all the members of the Councils of the Propagation of the Faith who have given life and stability to the most vast and most arduous Mission in the world. I shall respond with the consecration of my whole life, all my strength and all my blood to the conversion of Central Africa, which is the object of your great zeal and your heroic charity.
The General Congregation for my Vicariate will be taking place in a few weeks, or so our venerable Cardinal leads me to hope.

[4338]
In the meantime, so far, since the Holy See has entrusted the Vicariate of Central Africa to me, no European Missionary priest has died in Africa, whereas between 1848 and 1861 nearly all of them died in their first or second year. The main reason for this blessing is that the Sacred Heart of Jesus has shown that the time has come for the salvation of Africa. We shall have to suffer greatly, as I have suffered enormously until now. But after Calvary there is the resurrection of Central Africa and of its poor Gospel workers.
Please accept, Mr President, the homage of my soul and the gratitude of my heart for the heroic love and charity which you have for Central Africa. I have the honour of remaining in the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
Your most devoted servant

Daniel Comboni
Pro-Vicar Apostolic


Translated from French.

[4339]
I received your dearest letter on the 9th of this month with the Blessing for the new Abbess of the Benedictines in Nonnberg, Salzburg, and I thank you very, very much. Our dearest Bacilieri, Pighi and Demonte are doing the spiritual exercises with me and the Bishop. At the first break in the silence, I gave them your greetings. But after the exercises, we have agreed to spend much time together. Casella is in the country 4 miles away from my own house on lake Garda. Pray for me to the Lord. God be with you always, and pray for my dear Africa. I am and will always be (asking you to give my best regards to Melata, the Director of the Vatican Seminary)
Your most affectionate friend

Daniel Comboni,
Pro-Vicar Apostolic

[4340]
First of all I was delighted to hear of your safe return from the tomb of O’Connell and from your journey to the United Kingdom.
I have the honour of introducing to you one of the champions of the heroic German priesthood, the Very Reverend Fr Martin Vosen, Secretary of the praiseworthy Society of Cologne, which gave me nearly 200,000 (two hundred thousand) francs for the redemption of Africa. He wishes to pay his respects to Your Most Reverend Eminence; and should he not have been received in private audience by His Holiness, I implore Your Eminence to obtain this for him.

[4341]
The fine little lion for His Holiness is about to leave Khartoum with the famous Central African traveller Piaggia, and I hope it will reach Rome safe and sound in the early months of next year. It was caught in the newly conquered empire of Darfur and given to me by the ex-agent of the Sultan.
I take this opportunity to kiss your Sacred Purple, and remain in eternal respect

Your Most Reverend Eminence’s
most humble, obedient and devoted son

Pro-Vicar Apostolic of Central Africa

The Holy Father does not intend to accept the lion cub.

[4342]
On this feast of St Raphael, patron of vagabonds and travellers, I am tied to my desk and tomorrow I have an appointment with the Bishop at Grezzano. A whole array of things to do prevents me from coming to Vicenza and to Schio this week. You will be in Schio by now (I have just received your letter, at 8 p.m.). Please be so kind as to visit on my behalf the most erudite and venerable Fr Dr Giovanni Rossi, from whose mouth poured words of eternal life during the retreat he gave to the Verona clergy last September. Tell him that I pay him my best respects, and that I shall never forget his instructions even in the burning sands of Central Africa. He spoke as a great and Catholic speaker; he instructed like a skilled teacher and in our hearts he left an indelible imprint of himself and of his words. I would have liked to visit him with you; but I cannot: please be the interpreter of my respect and veneration.
[4343]
Today I received a most ample blessing from the Holy Father Pius IX, through my venerable Cardinal. My father has been here for some time: he sends you heartfelt greetings. The coffee, the dates and the umbrella are ready. I went to Venice last week: passing through Vicenza I remembered my promise: but before the feast of St Martin, perhaps before All Souls, I shall come with these things.
A thousand respects to the Bishop of Vicenza, to Mgr Dalla Vecchia; remember your most affectionate friend in the Lord

Daniel Comboni Pro-Vicar Apostolic

Give my regards to Fr Consolaro et alios, and your father and sister.

[4344]
Having been invited by Your Most Reverend Eminence to express my judgement on the proposal made by Fr Carcereri, Prefect of the Camillian House in Berber, for the division of my Vicariate into two parts, that is, into Eastern and We s t e r n with the Nile and the White Nile as a border, one to be entrusted to my Verona Institute and the other to the Camillian Order; I am ready conscientiously to give you satisfaction by presenting submissively my opinion based on the soundest reasons and with a deep knowledge of the situation.
[4345]
The proposal for a division of Central Africa was conceived 22 years ago and brought to the attention of the Most Eminent Cardinal Fransoni and His Eminence Cardinal Barnabò, then Secretary. It was drafted, studied and discussed from 1855 to 1865, when it was a matter of dividing the Vicariate between the German Missionaries of the Pro-Vicar Dr Knoblecher and the Mazza Institute in Verona, of which I was a member, and when in 1865 it was proposed to divide it between the aforesaid Mazza Institute and the Franciscan Order. In this affair I took a more active part and, in agreement with that most famous Historiographer of the Austrian Empire and Court, Counsellor de Hurter, President of the High Committee of the Society of Mary in Vienna and with the most enlightened Professor Mitterutzner of Bressanone (who is the most erudite and profound expert on the missions in Central Africa, for which he published two dictionaries in the two languages of the White Nile, Dinka and Bari), my predecessors the Pro-Vicars Apostolic, the most worthy of my missionary companions and I studied the matter with the utmost vigilance and care.
[4346]
We studied the possibility of dividing the Vicariate in all directions, East and We s t , with the Nile and the White Nile as a border, as proposed above by Carcereri, and North and South, with the Jebel Niemati on the 12th parallel as a border, as suggested by the above-mentioned Professor Mitterutzner, as may be seen in the Report I presented to the Most Eminent Cardinal Barnabò in 1865. We took into consideration all the journeys and explorations made in the eastern part of the Vicariate by the Egyptian expedition in 1824, by those of Linant Bey de Beaufond and of M. D’Arnaud in 1839–42, by Brun-Rollet, by M. De-Malzac in 1850–54 and by M. Penay, who got as far as Fadassi via Fazogl in 1852.
[4347]
We did not take into consideration the journeys of M. d’Abbadie, my friend who still lives in Paris and is quoted by Carcereri on the Rorbacher text, because d’Abbadie never visited the Blue Nile, nor did he ever go to Fazogl or to Fadassi, nor among the Barta or the Berta; but he diligently explored the little kingdoms of Abyssinia and the Galla tribes, missions entrusted to the Vincentians and the Capuchins, which d’Abbadie describes but which have nothing to do with my Vicariate. Instead our missionaries, for this purpose, undertook difficult explorations over the whole northern and western circumference and in several central tribes of the Eastern Vicariate.
[4348]
The Pro-Vicar Knoblecher went as many as eight times to the west of the Eastern Vi c a r i a t e as far as the 3rd degree of Latitude North; and Mgr Kirchner, Beltrame, Melotto, Überbacher, Mozgan, Kohl, Danninger, Lanz, Kauffmann, Morlang, other missionary companions and myself visited it before 1860. In 1855, Fr Beltrame, my companion from the Verona Institute, on a five month trip scrupulously examined the whole length of the Blue Nile, Fazogl, Barta, Berta and Changalla as far as the borders with Abyssinia. In 1859, with Melotto and Beltrame, I visited not only the river Sobat, which flows into the White Nile at the 9th parallel Latitude North, being the first missionaries to penetrate as far as one can go on a small boat, but also as far as the interior of Dinka territory reaching the Agnarkwei. (1)
[4349]
And after most thorough studies of the territory, the tribes and the languages of the Eastern Vicariate, it was decided that it was of prime necessity to have Khartoum as a point of support for the governance of both the Eastern Vi c a r i a t e and the Western Vicariate and that, therefore, a division of the Vicariate was neither useful nor appropriate. It was thus deemed necessary that a single supreme chief should direct all the Missions in Central Africa, and that this should be done according to a single wisely conceived plan or system, remaining firm and unassailable in his relations with the Egyptian Government which, although it has possessions within the Vicariate extending over an area five times as large as the whole of France and is planning new conquests, after a thousand attempts at dividing and subdividing its administration, continues to maintain a single Hoccomdar, or Military Governor General, who supervises all the provinces from a single support base which is the city of Khartoum, where the supreme chief of the Missions of Central Africa should also have his normal residence, until the Sudan railway has been built and the communications made easier than they are today.
[4350]
Another falsehood is the assertion of the Camillians that in the Eastern Vi c a r i a t e there is not a single establishment of secular missionaries and at all the existing Stations are in the We s t e r n part. In fact, in the Eastern part there is
the Shellal house and the Berber house, which I founded and entrusted to the Camillians for five years with the obligation to care for the Catholics in the Provinces of Taka and Suakin which are in the eastern part of the Vicariate, and which they have not visited in two years. The main Mission of Khartoum is itself in the eastern part, as was the old mission of Gondokoro.

[4351]
As far as I am concerned, I also took the most diligent care of the eastern part; whereas the Camillians did not take care to cultivate it as was their duty.
Now the reasons which prompted the rejection of a division in the past are the same today. They are the very reasons which proved that the studies of many years and of many people for the purpose of an appropriate division were in vain. Therefore, an appropriate division of the Vicariate of Central Africa, even from an absolute point of view, is not possible today.

[4352]
Viewed in relation to the individuals who would be separately occupying and governing the two parts, the division would be not only useless, but even harmful as things stand. In fact, it would be more useful a) if the Camillians, who are demanding a part of the Vicariate, were to get it, and had more means at their disposal for it than the Verona Institutes would have. This does not appear to be the case, because as well as asking for half the Vicariate, they are also asking for half the resources, that is, half the money which I was able to raise with such difficulty from private benefactors and the aid associations. And together with half the Vicariate and half the resources, they would also expect me to give them the establishments, painstakingly founded by me, which exist in the part that would be assigned to them.
[4353]
Therefore, with regard to the available means, a division of the Vicariate would not be more useful. However, if there were parity of resources, it would be more useful, b) if the Camillians could dispose of a larger number of suitable candidates than my Verona Institutes. If it was up to me to judge this from all the Camillians who have worked and are working with me on the Mission and from the main aim of their institution, I would immediately say that, if not impossible, it is very difficult for the Camillian Order to provide more suitable candidates that those coming from my Institutes in Verona. So if there were parity of resources and of appropriate candidates, or the possession of greater and better means by the Camillians, the division of the Vicariate would be more useful, c) only if they were able to use a better Mission system than the one my secular Missionaries have or can have; but I do not believe that there can be a better system than the present one, which the past has taught us. In this respect, I shall return to the subject when I discuss the competence of the personnel provided by my Verona Institutes.
[4354]
Therefore, a division of the Vicariate between my Verona Institutes and the Camillians would not be more useful. Indeed, I dare say it would be harmful or at least dangerous; and this can very easily be deduced from the way they have behaved towards me. They have made every possible effort, using lies, slander and every illicit means (even if in vain) to discredit me and diminish and destroy my influence as well as that of the members of my Institute, not only with Muslims, heretics, Catholics, friends and enemies in the Vicariate, but even in Europe, in Verona, with the Associations of benefactors and many other people. Therefore the closeness of the Camillians would be harmful or at least dangerous.
[4355]
Therefore, so as not to harm or endanger my Institution, which I founded with so much toil and effort and which thank God has now a solid foundation to perpetuate the stability of the Mission in Central Africa, in conscience I cannot give and I will not give my approval to the division of the Vicariate between my Institute and the Camillians or to surrendering the establishments and the resources, even in part. How could I possibly believe that these Camillians, who were not able to carry out the Convention I established with them in 1874 and development of a small part of the Vicariate no larger than Italy, could ever conscientiously assume and govern half the Vicariate, without good candidates and without a house of their own for acclimatisation in Cairo, which is absolutely essential for the steady support of a Mission in Central Africa?
[4356]
I cannot and I do not give my approval for the division of the Vicariate, nor for the cession, even in part, of the establishments founded by me with the Lord’s help and the resources which St Joseph granted to me and my Verona Institutes for the development of the Missions entrusted to them.
[4357]
I do not know how the Camillians could have led anyone to believe that I am prepared to leave them half the Vicariate and that I could have promised them such a thing when, in 1874, before the Convention, it was established that they would always be in support and assistance of my Missionaries, as can be seen both in the Convention and in many letters from Fr Carcereri himself. This, for example, is what he wrote to me from Rome in April 1874: “… here are the main points which have been agreed: that Fr Guardi will give us other Missionary priests from the Order… that these religious will be able to be parish priests, confessors for women religious and also heads of Mission Stations, and be of service to the Vicariate at your request or that of your successors… in adiutum, so to speak… But Fr Guardi asks that we have our own house and not our own mission, so that the religious may gather there from time to time to renew their spirit and live there, should they not have duties elsewhere, to live by the rule… We will only be of help wherever we are needed, as Fr General Guardi has said several times…”


Appendix I

[4358]
That, and no more, is what Fr Carcereri was asking in April 1874, declaring that he and his companions would never have aspired to having an independent mission, but that he and they would always be of help to my secular Missionaries “who have first rights to the Mission, since it was granted to them”.
[4359]
Those are precisely the sentiments that Fr Carcereri himself revealed to Fr Bartolo Rolleri of Cairo in a letter of his from Rome dated 18th April 1874, adding that this was what was agreed even in Propaganda: “… For us Camillians, everything has been agreed in this way both in Propaganda and with our General: from the Pro-Vicar will be requested a house with a church, travel, board and clothing expenses; each priest is at the disposal of the Pro-Vicar and to assist the Missionaries, with permission to be parish priest, master, Vicar General and the like. I have already written this to the Pro-Vicar, but you would do well to remind him again”.


Appendix J

[4360]
And it is on these conditions that I accepted them and installed them in Berber as can be seen from the Convention. Therefore, if Fr Carcereri’s behaviour especially since 1874, had not with good reason aroused serious suspicions in me as regards his aspirations, I would now be expressing the greatest wonder about the proposal which he recently made to Propaganda for the division of the Vicariate of Central Africa into two parts, one of which would absolutely have to be entrusted to his Order. However, knowing his secret intentions, it does not surprise me at all that he is revealing them and asking for them to be put into practice. It is quite true that Fr Carcereri, convinced that without a good enough reason the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda would not divest my Verona Institutes of an iota of their rights, he will have put forward such reasons in advance and even together with his request. But according to me, there can only be three valid reasons for the division of the Vicariate, namely: 1) that I and others from the Verona Institutes are inept in properly governing the Vicariate; 2) that the number of candidates from the Verona Institutes is insufficient; 3) that I have committed a violation of the contract or that I have unjustly mistreated them.
[4361]
To establish whether the first of the above-mentioned reasons for the implementation of the requested division exists, which, without taking into consideration the toils I have put up with for over twenty years, the perils I have overcome, the resources I provided, the mortifications I have suffered, calls attention only to examining the documents I have issued throughout my general governance, I still think, without saying that I am the most suited, that it does not exist. a) I did nothing at all in haste, as may be thought and may appear if one considers words rather than facts. Instead I did everything after serious study, without disregard for the advice of others; whereas the inflexibility of Fr Carcereri, even in a subordinate position, should not be passed over in silence: he has ideas and wants to succeed at all costs, even though his ideas are rarely righteous, good and just. b) I dealt with the civil authorities in such a way that without being verbally rigid, I always in fact obtained respect for the rights of the Mission and their good favour, even though I sometimes had to renew friendship between the Mission and the civil authorities embittered by Fr Carcereri’s character which disturbs and offends and tries immediately to knock down whatever crosses his path.
[4362]
All this can, albeit in a minor way, be seen in the Reports I have presented. Let the Sacred Congregation believe that it is against my will that I lower myself in making such declarations and such comparisons. I would never have believed that, after vowing to work only for the glory of God, I could be forced to abase myself in such confessions. However, having been provoked, the good of Africa and therefore the glory of God, as well as justice itself, force me to do so, and even prompt me to observe: c) that nothing inappropriate is contained in the prescribed disciplinary dispositions laid out in the Report I presented in June; and d) that during the two years 1874–1875 in which I managed the administration, the handling of the financial means was, in the circumstances, nothing less than appropriate, whereas, in this respect too, I could make many and serious remarks about Fr Carcereri, as can partly be seen in the above-mentioned report which I presented.
[4363]
And here, for love of brevity, I believe I can conclude by saying that, if I am not the most suited person to govern the Mission, I have nonetheless never acted without a sound reason, nor do I remember doing something for which I now have reason to reproach myself, except the excessive leniency I showed to Fathers Carcereri and Franceschini despite their demerits; demerits I did not know well enough to begin with, but only suspected; demerits which, without hesitation, make me say that any of my present Missionaries would be more able, appropriate and upright to govern than either of these two.
[4364]
As to the 2nd reason concerning the presumed insufficient number of candidates coming from the Verona Institute, I say that this does not subsist either. The numbers would only be insufficient for a Mission system which, going against the facts, considered useful and feasible in Central Africa the multiplication of a host of little stations in as many scarcely populated cities, towns and villages as there are here and there. The Mission system I have practised so far was first proposed to the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda and was approved by it. I hastened to implement it and, by the grace of God, the results followed beyond my expectations, despite a thousand difficulties.
[4365]
Building comfortable stations, supplying them with enough priests, lay craftsmen and Sisters and doing this in main towns where the population is more numerous and where people occasionally come from the hamlets scattered here and there is, according to me, not only the most economical system, as is immediately obvious, but especially in Central Africa, it is the most appropriate, since being more united in this way, it is easier to deal with the illnesses and physical and moral perils to which the Missionaries are otherwise exposed.
[4366]
Of all the possible systems, this seems to me to be the most useful one because by having the stations in the main towns, being fewer, they can be built with that unique decorum which helps us to gain and preserve moral influence among these people, because in this way it is easier to see to their stability and because, since it is thus easier to deploy more Sisters for the complete education of the women, more craftsmen to teach the necessary skills for the conservation of the faith and more priests in each station, this method is the one most easily, perfectly and securely equipped to ensure the material and moral well-being of both sexes. This is the system which, having been approved by the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda, I have used so far, and to proceed with this system, the Verona Institutes offer and will continue to offer enough personnel.
[4367]
They offer, and will be offering, enough personnel to cover and manage not only the part that would be granted to them if the Vicariate were divided, but also to cover and manage the part which, by dividing the Vicariate, would be given to the Camillians. This is why, in addition to my not being able or willing to consent to a division of the Vicariate, I do not feel like relinquishing the eastern part, since it can properly and usefully be managed by my Verona Institutes, and the establishments built there are the fruit of so much effort on my part. Neither do I feel like relinquishing the western part because it can be properly and usefully managed by my Verona Institutes, together with the eastern part, because that is the true Mission territory, the territory offering the greatest hopes.
[4368]
After all this, I believe the Sacred Congregation will not want to decide to divide the Vicariate because of the third reason, which rather than supporting the requested partition in favour of the Camillian Fathers would be more conducive to their being removed altogether from the Mission. It was not I who treated them badly, but they me, in trying to oust me from the Mission. For if they were in any way offended by me, it was on account of their behaviour, and my actions were all just, neither as many nor as grave as they should have been, nor yet as many or as grave as they say or believe them to have been.
[4369]
All this appears clearly in the Reports which, under their provocation, I had to present to the Sacred Congregation and in which I explained only what I could prove about them with their own documents. But in conscience I could have said much more not only about Carcereri and Franceschini, but also about other Camillian religious who, though not mentioned in my recent reports, also caused me serious problems.
[4370]
I was therefore unjustly offended by those Camillians whom I am aware of having always treated generously, admitting them as brothers to share with me in the joys and sorrows of the sublime Apostolate of Central Africa, lavishing on them the most diligent cares and advantages, entrusting them with the most honourable assignments in preference to the Missionaries of my own Institutes, who would have been more worthy of them. Therefore it seems to me impossible, in view of so many demerits on the part of the Camillians, that the Sacred Congregation should wish to grant the undeserved prize of a special Mission, depriving my own Institute of it: for in such a case it would appear to be rewarding the guilty and punishing the innocent.
[4371]
But since the Camillians themselves, by saying that they would only stay on the Mission if they were granted a portion of the Vicariate, have all taken the road for a return to Europe, it is my hope that the Sacred Congregation will accept their resolution and call them all back from the Mission.
I have the honour of kissing your Sacred Purple and remaining in all respect,
Your Most Reverend Eminence’s most devoted, obedient and respectful son

Daniel Comboni
Pro-Vicar Apostolic of Central Africa

[4372]
(1) Since 21st August last, my representative, Canon Fiore, sent my Missionary Fr Gennaro Martini and two others to Khartoum charged with visiting the Blue Nile, the Barta, the Fazogl, the Kadaref, the Galabat and the province of Taka where there are Catholics totally neglected by the Camillians.

[4373]
I have received the postcard you wrote me on the 18th of last month as well as your letter of the 2nd of this month, together with an Episcopal petition to the Holy Father on your behalf. When I have a little respite from the very serious matters I am currently negotiating with the Holy See, I shall deal with these small matters, as well as doing what I can for Fr Costante, with the firm hope of success.
I have not brought any umbrella to Rome, neither yours nor mine, which ab immemorabili I do not have or use. I always saw yours in the office or bureau of Fr Antonio Squaranti to the left of anyone entering the College. I shall have a letter written to Fr Antonio about this, since it seemed a very fine umbrella to me.

[4374]
I enjoyed the friendly meeting with Fr Beltrame. I can tell your pleasure from my own, when he came to see me.
Fr Paolo sends you his best regards: he is already an expert diplomat and is ably handling a matter with the Holy See.

[4375]
Confidentially and in complete secrecy I shall tell you the secret resolutions approved by the Holy See regarding my cause. It must be noted that the Camillians, after slandering me so much to the Holy See (of course to bring me down, destroy me forever and substitute my Work with their Order), after accusing me in Propaganda of being guilty of all seven capital sins, and of having sinned against all ten Commandments of the Decalogue and the Precepts of the Church, seeing that they could not succeed, asked the Holy See to divide the Vicariate into two parts, choosing for themselves the Eastern part, to which I answered the Holy See absolutely not.
[4376]
On the 27th the General Congregation of Cardinals was held in the Vatican and after 4 hours of discussion it decided:

1. No division will be made of the Vicariate of Central Africa, but it will have a single supreme head and that will be Mgr Comboni.

2. All the Camillian accusations are insubstantial and invalid; instead the defence and accusations of Mgr Comboni against the Camillians are valid and victorious.

[4377]
3. The two Camillians Fr Carcereri and Fr Franceschini are to be immediately expelled from the Mission.

4. Mgr Comboni is to be promoted to the episcopate; but before his formal appointment

1. the Most Reverend Fr General of the Camillians must be consulted as to whether he intends to leave the other Camillians on the Mission or whether he intends to withdraw them all definitively.
2. Mgr Comboni must be consulted as the conditions under which he would accept the Camillians that remain and new ones, should the Father General wish to leave them on the Mission.
3. Should Mgr Comboni not want any more Camillians, or should the Fr General wish to withdraw them all, Mgr Comboni must be heard on how he would organise the Vicariate with the forces of his Institutes alone without the help of the Camillians.

[4378]
My answer will be sharp and bold. Away with all the Camillians. As soon as they have all gone, I shall have my Missionaries occupy the Camillian Station in Berber, immediately adding to it an Institution of the French Sisters of St Joseph, or of the Devout Mothers of Africa from Verona, who are ready.
[4379]
I think I have achieved a complete triumph against my adversaries, even though they had as General the Most Reverend Fr Guardi, Consultor to the Congregations of the Index, the Holy Office or Inquisition, the Holy Rites, the Bishops and Regulars, and an Examiner of Bishops as well as having been General of a religious Order for many years, being born in Rome and having very close relations with the Pope, Cardinals and Prelates.
[4380]
But in Rome it is a matter of justice. My Work, having emerged unscathed from this furious tempest and from this colossal conspiracy, attempted with all the devil’s means from the depths of Africa to Cologne to bring me down and destroy me forever, will arise stronger and more prosperous and will pursue its course through the centuries, bearing the light of the Gospel throughout vast Africa, to moor at the port of eternity with the glorious Church of Christ. Jesus be praised.
[4381]
There is what I have to tell you in confidence, for I too have known it in confidence and not officially, because the 3 points of the 4th resolution of the Sacred Congregation have to take place. I am therefore writing this to you in secret and will give you other news soon. Sins never more! Friars never more! I love friars who are good: but not the bad ones. My saying Friars never more is meant for the brigands. My regards to Fr Consolaro and those I know.
Tuissimus

Daniel

[4382]
I have the honour of sending you two copies of the picture you were kind enough to send me last July. After Epiphany I will send you two copies of a detailed Report on my dear and arduous Vicariate.
Words fail me in expressing my deep gratitude to you and to the divine Association for the Propagation of the Faith, over which you deign to preside, for the generous funds you have granted to my Vicariate, for its life depends on you. It is truly moving to see that every year I receive such generous help as to be able to cover the greatest needs. I insistently beg you, Mr President, to continue giving your protection to Central Africa and to increase every year the allocation you grant me, since the needs are increasing and our toils are immense. Satan has worked greatly to impede the good work, but out of the crosses and persecutions the Sacred Heart of Jesus will produce a brighter future for this Mission of Central Africa.

[4383]
I beg you, Mr President, to send me here in Rome the first part of the annual allowance which the Association has the custom of distributing in December.
Rome is truly eternal, but it has the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and it is by the light of this divine wisdom that it does justice to truth. God’s bounty has given us the Catholic Church. The Sacred Congregation of Propaganda has all the wisdom to direct four and a half parts of the whole world in the spiritual order, and the two Central Councils of Lyons and Paris have the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and the charity of Jesus Christ and know how to distribute and be able to distribute to the most important missions in the world the aid they need to continue the Mission of the Son of God.
I will never be able to pray for the Church of God without praying for the Propagation of the Faith.

[4384]
I take the liberty of sending you the prayer for the conversion of my 100 million infidels who are in my Vicariate, to which Pius IX has granted plenary and partial indulgences.
Please accept, Mr President, my most ardent best wishes for Christmas and the New Year and my sentiments of deepest gratitude as I remain in the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
Your most devoted servant

Daniel Comboni
Pro-Vicar Apostolic of Central Africa


Translated from French.