To the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Léon Federico Aneyros

E VII, 3166

He informs him of the process initiated with the Pope regarding the Salesian missions in South America with the aim of establishing an Apostolic Vicariate in Patagonia.

Rome, 15 April 1880

Your Excellency,

In time I received your letter and that of Msgr Espinosa, your Vicar General, in which, on your behalf and also on behalf of the Argentine Government, you offered the Salesians the missions of Patagonia and the other colonies of the Rio Negro.

I gladly accepted this proposal, and I have arranged to send some religious to see, examine, and prepare the things necessary to welcome other missionaries who are now preparing for departure.

However, after giving the proposal due consideration, I decided to bring everything before the Holy Father in order to obtain enlightenment, advice and guidance in a matter of such importance.

His Holiness, wishing to proceed with full knowledge of the facts, appointed a commission of eminent figures, who judge wat is possible to be done for the greater glory of God and for the benefit of souls:

1. To commend the Archbishop of Buenos Aires for his zeal in his vast diocese, and especially for spreading the Gospel among the savages of the Pampas and Patagonia.

2. Having examined the distance between the colonies of Rio Negro and the Archbishop’s See (a fortnight’s journey), he proposes the establishment of an Apostolic Vicariate which shall embrace the colonies already established or which will be organised on the banks of the Rio Negro. Thus, the new Vicariate would extend from the 36th to the 50th degree of south latitude exclusively. It would be called the Apostolic Vicariate of Patagonia, as the province established there by the government is so named. It would be based in Carmen, which would become the centre of the Salesian Missions among the Indians, in accordance with the opinion of Your Excellency.

3. Ask Your Excellency to use his good offices with the Government, so that it may contribute with an annual sum of money to establish and support this Vicariate, which is considered indispensable for ensuring the civil and religious status of those colonies.

To this end, a letter is also being written to the Superior of our religious, so that, with your consent, he may promote all measures that may contribute to the growth and stability of those missions.

4. Any comments or observations that you may wish to make in this regard should be addressed to His Eminence Cardinal Nina, Secretary of State of His Holiness.

For my part, I will not cease to do everything in my power, both by sending other missionaries to help those already in Patagonia and by gathering material resources in Europe for this purpose. Your Excellency's zeal has called my religious to South America, and your charity has always protected and supported them; I have full confidence that you will continue to be a father to us, while we promise, as respectful children, to obey and serve you in everything we can.

I am happy to be able to profess that I am

Your most obliged servant,

Fr John Bosco

Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation