Gregory, Bishop, servant of the servants of God: In perpetual
remembrance of the affair.
Trusting in the safeguard of Him who moves the hinges of the earth,
toward whom are bent the minds of men--through whose providence,
moreover, all things derive their government--we willingly do our share
of the duty entrusted to us from above, to the end that they who now
are in darkness may be enabled to enjoy the true light which is Christ
Jesus, and that the rays of His light may beam upon them. Wherefore,
in accordance with the preëminence of this apostolic see in the regions
of the earth, all and singular, as required by necessity and other
reasonable motives, we plant new episcopal sees and churches, that
by new plantations may be increased the new adhesion of peoples to
the church militant; that everywhere may arise, spread, and flourish
the profession of the Christian religion and the Catholic faith; that
even insignificant places may thereby be enlightened, and that their
inhabitants and the dwellers thereof, girded around with new sees in
charge of prelates of rank, may the more easily win the rewards of
everlasting happiness. In truth, since the soldiers of our very dear
son in Christ, Philip, Catholic Sovereign of the Spains, voyaging
many years ago to the sea known as Mar del Sur ["Southern Sea"],
discovered there very many islands known as the Philippines, near the
continent of China, in some of which (chiefly in Luzon and Zebu) they
made settlements; while the same King Philip sent to the aforesaid
islands not only temporal governors for the purpose of establishing
and maintaining justice therein, but ecclesiastical persons, both
regulars and seculars, that they might administer the sacraments of
the church and confirm converts in the Catholic faith--the result was
that, through the mercy of God, many natives of the said islands were
converted to the said faith. However (albeit matters in the spiritual
realm have thus far been managed in this fashion), with the increase
of Spaniards in those islands the same King Philip, in order that
they might become more peaceful and populous, with this intent sent
thither Spaniards--two hundred men with their wives and children,
and four hundred unmarried men. Daily very many of the said natives,
embracing the aforesaid faith, receive the regeneration of sacred
baptism, although the islands aforesaid are more than two thousand
leagues distant from the province of the Christians known as New
Spain, subject to the rule of the said King Philip, whence supplies
are brought to those islands. It therefore was proper and necessary,
for the welfare of the souls of these natives and other like persons,
as well as for the peace of conscience of the said King Philip, that
in those islands should be some one in charge of spiritual affairs,
with the care of the said souls. Neither should there be wanting the
proper and necessary spiritual and ecclesiastical government in those
regions, to the end that Almighty God may be served more faithfully,
and the gospel law and the said faith be spread and exalted the more,
on this account. After mature deliberation with our brethren on these
points, with their advice, arid at the humble solicitation of the
aforesaid King Philip, by our apostolic authority, by perpetual tenor
of these presents, to the praise and glory of the same Almighty God,
as well as to the honor of His most glorious Mother and ever Virgin
Mary and of all the heavenly court, and to the exaltation of the
aforesaid faith, we separate, exempt, and wholly release the church
of the city known as Manila, in the said island of Luzon, as well
as the city itself, and, in the islands belonging to it and their
districts, territories, and villages, all the inhabitants of either
sex, all the clergy, people, secular and regular persons, monasteries,
hospitals, and pious places, as well as ecclesiastical and secular
benefices, of whatsoever orders of regulars, from our venerable
brother the archbishop of Mexico, and from any other ecclesiastical
and diocesan prelates, under whose jurisdiction they previously may
have been--as well as from all jurisdiction, superiorship, cognizance,
visit, dominion, and power of any one whomsoever. Moreover, by the
aforesaid authority and tenor, we erect and establish forever the
town of Manila into a city, and its church into a cathedral, under
the title of "the Conception of the same Blessed Mary Virgin," to
be held by one bishop as its head, who shall see to the enlargement
of its buildings and their restoration in the style of a cathedral
church. Besides this, in it and the city and diocese he shall have
the word of God preached, the heathen natives of those islands
brought and converted to the worship of the orthodox faith, and
converts instructed and confirmed in the same faith; moreover, he
shall cause to be imparted to them the grace of baptism, with the
administration of the other sacraments of the church. In the church,
city, and diocese of Manila, he shall exercise episcopal jurisdiction,
authority, and power freely. Moreover, in both the aforesaid city
and diocese he shall now, as well as on occasion, erect and establish
dignities, canonries, prebends, and other ecclesiastical benefices,
both with and without parochial charge, with whatever else besides may
be expedient for the increase of divine worship and the health of soul
of those natives. He shall be subject to the said archbishop of Mexico,
and to his successors for the time being, as metropolitan. Moreover,
he shall enjoy all rights as on occasion shall be declared, excepting
as regards gold and silver metals, gems, and precious stones, which
are the right of the said Philip and of the Catholic Sovereigns of
the Spains for the time being. For this reason we ordain that tithes
and offerings of first-fruits [_primitias_], as required by law,
need not be paid. Moreover he shall enjoy all other episcopal rights,
the same as are enjoyed, by law or custom, by other bishops of
the kingdoms of the Spains together with the exaction of the
same as see, table [_mensa_], and other episcopal insignia, and
jurisdictions. Besides, for the future he may freely and lawfully
use, hold, and enjoy the privileges, immunities, and graces which
other cathedral churches and their prelates in the said kingdoms
use, hold, and enjoy, in any manner, through law or custom. Again,
to the same church of Manila we assign the aforesaid people for city,
the said island of Luzon and all the other islands for diocese, and
the natives and inhabitants thereof for clergy and people. Moreover
we grant to the same King Philip power to assign, increase, extend,
lessen, and otherwise change the bounds therein. For his episcopal
table [_mensa_], we apply and appropriate as dowry the yearly
revenue of two hundred ducats, to be paid by King Philip from the
yearly revenues coming to him from the said island of Luzon, until
the fruit of the table itself shall reach the value of two hundred
similar ducats. Moreover we reserve, grant, and assign forever to the
king the right of patronage over the church of Manila; and should
any vacancy occur therein (this the first occasion only excepted),
to present, within one year, to the Roman Pontiff for the time being,
persons fit for that office as bishop and pastor of the same church of
Manila. We also grant the same right of presentation for dignities,
canonries, prebends, and other benefices, from their first erection,
and thereafter as vacancies shall occur, these being similarly given
to the bishop of Manila for the time being, who shall present the same
to Philip, or the king for the time being--who, by reason of the dowry
and the new foundation, is to be consulted in the establishment of
these dignities, canonries, and prebends, the apostolic constitutions,
and ordinances, and other things, to the contrary notwithstanding.
Let no one therefore infringe this page of our separation,
exemption, release, decree of erection, establishment, application,
appropriation, reservation, grant, and assignments, or rashly dare
to contravene. Should anyone, however, presume to attempt it, let him
recognize that he has thereby incurred the wrath of Almighty God, and
of his Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul. Given at Rome, at St. Peter's,
on the sixth day of February in the year of the incarnation of our
Lord one thousand five hundred and seventy-eight, and the seventh
year of our pontificate.