_To the Bishop, Clergy, and People of the Philippines_
Venerable brother and beloved son, health and apostolic blessing.
The lofty works of divine power, that in the earthly realm take place
not by human but by heavenly means, very often are wont to display
themselves from the very outset; while matters that through divine
wisdom as leader and mistress tend to a spiritual end, the health that
is of our souls, in the meanwhile lie unrecognized, or, if unveiled,
seem of such trivial import as not to be viewed in their grandeur even
by the keenest of minds, until aroused thereto chiefly by the splendor
of their results. This, as oftentimes before, has happened now at this
very time in the conversion to gospel truth of the New World, of both
the Indias, and especially of the Philippine Islands. Wherefore we
are uplifted in great wonder at the most bountiful results wrought
therein secretly by divine wisdom, from the first discovery of those
countries. Previously we had learned of this, in truth, from the
letters of many persons and from report; now however, that the divine
goodness has raised our insignificance to the summit of apostolic
dignity, we have heard it also from the ambassador, our beloved son
Alphonsus Sanchez, a professed priest of the Society of Jesus--sent
in your name first to Sixtus V, pope, of happy memory; then to the
following Roman pontiffs, our predecessors; and lately to us--from
whom, in private conversations which we frequently have held with
him, we have learned more in detail ... From conversation, too, with
the same Alphonsus we have learned of your purposes and deeds in the
foundation of churches, the spread of divine worship, the training of
natives, the establishment of schools, the practice of useful arts,
the appointment of magistrates, the defense of missionaries, the
protection of new converts, and, in fine, the permanence of those
commonwealths--which as so many members and parts thereof you have
brought about through the union of the New World with the Old.
Now, however, in order that you may have some recompense for your love
and good-will toward us, and enjoy some reward for your endeavors and
toils, by the authority of almighty God and of the holy apostles Peter
and Paul, and by our own, in virtue of these presents, we take you all
and singular and all that you have, into our trust and protection,
and that of the apostolic see; and we send you through the same
Alphonsus our apostolic blessing....
Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, under the seal of the Fisherman,
March 25, 1592, in the first year of our pontificate.