To the Cardinal Secretary of State, Lorenzo Nina

E VII, 3147

Faced with the insurmountable difficulty of obtaining an audience with the Pope to discuss the affairs of the Congregation and the missions in Patagonia, he requested his intervention in the matter.

Rome, 22 March 1880

Your Eminence,

When you need extraordinary grace, you must turn to a saint who is very close to the Lord in Heaven. I feel the same way about Your Eminence.

As you are well aware, I have been in Rome for ten days now, dealing with urgent matters concerning our congregation, and especially the Missions in Patagonia, for which important decisions must be made that require the prior approval of the Holy Father.

Nine days ago, I requested the necessary audience. Yesterday, I begged the Maestro di Camera [Chamberlain] to help me obtain this favour, adding that I had with me a considerable sum of money from St Peter’s. I was told not to even think about it for this week, and he gave me almost no hope for the following week.

I have visited His Eminence Cardinal Ferrieri several times and have even submitted a written request, but to date I have no hope of obtaining an audience.

Having to respond in some way to the proposals of the Argentine Government on the evangelisation of the banks of the Rio Negro (Pampas and Patagonia), I take the liberty of turning to Your Eminence as our protector and distinguished benefactor to ask you to say a word to the Holy Father on our behalf. However, if the Holy Father should be inconvenienced or for any reason should not deem it possible to grant me the requested audience, I accept and revere whatever decision he may make. I will stop by Your Eminence for a moment to get a quick answer.

With a heart full of gratitude, I have the great honour of being able to profess that I am

Your Eminence’s

most obliged servant,

Fr John Bosco