E VIII, 3663

To comply with the Pope’s wishes, he asks the archbishop for forgiveness for any distress he may have caused him in recent times

Turin, 8 July 1882

Your Excellency,

His Holiness of Our Lord, considering that the various disputes that have arisen for some time between Your Most Reverend Excellency and the humble Congregation of the Salesians, are a source of discord and friction, to the detriment of authority and admiration of the faithful, has deigned to make known to me his will that all disputes cease and that true and lasting peace be restored between us.

Therefore, in order to comply with the wise intentions of the August Pontiff, which were always my own, I express to Your Excellency my regret that in recent times certain incidents have altered the peaceful relations that previously existed between us and have caused bitterness in Your Excellency’s heart.

Indeed, if Your Excellency has ever believed that I, or any member of the Salesian institute, has contributed to this situation, I beg your Most Reverend Excellency’s forgiveness and ask you to forget the past.

In the hope that Your Excellency will kindly accept these sentiments, I take this opportunity to wish you God’s most gracious blessings, while I have the great honour of professing with high esteem and profound veneration that I am

Your Excellency’s

most obedient servant

Fr John Bosco