To the Provincial Fr Francesco Bodrato
E VI, 3167
Information agreed with the Holy See regarding a fitting expression of gratitude to the government of the Argentine Republic for the kindness shown to the Salesians and Daughters of Mary Help of Christians who left for Patagonia - an Apostolic Vicariate is hoped for.
Rome, 15 April 1880
My dear Fr Bodratto,
The good intentions of the Archbishop of Buenos Aires and the Argentine Government to spread civilisation and religion among the Indians and the colonies of Rio Negro moved me to gladly accept the offer of missions aimed at civilising and evangelising the inhabitants of those vast and uncultivated regions.
To this end, as you well know, we have begun to send Fr Fagnano with some companions to prepare the means and premises for other Salesians who will soon be leaving to reinforce the ranks of their confreres in Patagonia.
But in the desire to make the work of civilisation among those peoples ever more stable and thus facilitate the knowledge and practice of the arts, crafts and agriculture among the Indians, I went to Rome to explain to the Holy Father how the Argentine Government favours the Salesians both in terms of travel and in helping them to live in those wild countries. The Holy Father was greatly consoled by this because it gave rise to a well-founded hope of expanding the kingdom of Jesus Christ on earth.
In order to ensure that this pious undertaking was carefully considered, he appointed a commission of eminent figures to examine what had been done in the past and what was appropriate to do in order to cooperate with the Government in civilising and evangelising those peoples who are also children of the Heavenly Father, called to the bosom of the Catholic Religion, which is also the religion of the Argentine State.
His Holiness's representatives, after carefully considering the historical, geographical, civil and religious conditions of the Pampas and Patagonia; considering the great distance of those colonies from the Archiepiscopal See of Buenos Aires; taking into account the number of inhabitants, which already exceeds ten thousand and is increasing; convinced that an Apostolic Vicariate would serve as a moral and religious bond for the peoples and at the same time would form a centre around which the Indians who came to the faith could safely gather; counting on the generosity of the Argentine Government for a work aimed at civilising a notable and most needy part of its States;
For all these reasons, they came to the following decisions:
1. To thank the Argentine Government for the favour it does for religion, especially for spreading it among the Indians.
2. To consolidate the civil and religious status of the Rio Negro Colonies through the establishment of an Apostolic Vicariate which would bear the same name as the province of Patagonia and would encompass both existing colonies and those yet to be founded in neighbouring savage lands, such that the new Vicariate would extend exclusively from the 36th to the 50th degree of southern latitude.
3. To request the Government to provide assistance in the form of an annual financial contribution, in order to establish and ensure the existence of an Apostolic Vicariate so distant from civilised countries.
4. The intentions that will be expressed by the Government may be addressed to His Eminence Cardinal Lorenzo Nina, Secretary of State of His Holiness.
However, in order to ensure the regularity of negotiations and that the good intentions of the Government are faithfully followed, it is appropriate that the response be made in writing. After providing the communications and explanations requested by the civil authorities, you will report to me on what needs to be done to ensure the success of this pious undertaking.
I also intend this letter to serve as a thank you to the Government of the Republic for the protection, goodwill and assistance it has provided on several occasions to the Salesian religious and the Sisters of Mary Help of Christians.
Your most affectionate friend
Fr John Bosco
