Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-19
THE POpE'S LETTER.
He Writes to Cardinal Gibbons Concerning
the Coming Catholic Ceufenniai-
Many Expressions Of Love and
Gou0dnucn fo- A

mnny Expressions Of Love and
Confidence for America.
BALTIMORE, October 1s-Foliowing is
the letter sent by the Pope to Cardinal Glib
bons with regard to the Catholic centennial:
To Our Beloved Son, James Gibbons, of the
1ltle OF st. Mary Beyond the Tiber, Cardinal
friest OF the Holy Roman Church, Arch
bishop Of Baltimore:
Beloved son, health and apostolic benedic-
tion. The great love for country and religion
Mnicn you and our brethren, the Bishops Of the
Onl,eo states OF America, have SO often and SO
nopiy manifested is again strikingly illustrated
IN bne letter which you have recently addressed
70 US; From 1t we learn that pastors and people
are about to assemble in the city of Baltimore to
celebrate the one hundredth anniversary OF
the establishment Of the sacred hierarchy In
the United States. On that occasion you pro-
generous help Of the faithful, you have
founded In the city OF Washington as q happy
prestige OF future greatness for the new era
upon VIII which you are about to enter. i
piety thus gratefully to recall the bless
Ings bestowed upon your country by divine
Providence, and at the same time to raise up In
memory OF them monument which will be an
honor to yourselves and q lasting benefit to
your fellow citizens and to the country at
large. And, therefore, We gladly unite with
you in returning thanks to GOD, the author of
all gifts. At the same time, we cordially con-
gratulate you on the zeal with which you emu
late the example of your glorious predecessors,
faithfully treading in their footsteps, while
ever widening the field opened up by their
apostolic labors
Most joytully have we welcomed the ex.
preston which you, beloved son. and the other
bishops convey to us of your loyalty and devo-
tion to the Apostolic See. We desire, in return,
to assure you that, like our predecessors Of be-
loved memory, We too, bear an especial love
toward you, our brethren. and the faithful
committed to your care, and that we pray fer
vently for your prosperity and Welfare,
gathering comfort meanwhile no less from
the readiness of your people to cooperate in
all manner Of good works. than from the ex-
amples of sacerdotal In regard to your wish
that some representatives from this city
should, in our name, be present at your cele-
bration, we readily assent TO ir; the more will
ingly, because their presence will be an
especial mark both of our esteem and beneyo-
lence and of that bond of faith and charity
which united pastors and people to the supreme
head of the church.
In conclusion, we earnestly pray to God, pro-
tector and guardian of the Catholic cause, that
under the prosperous and favored public iDsti-
tutions. by which you are enabled to exercise
with freedom your sacred ministry, your labors
may rebound to the benefit Of Church and
country. And, as a pledge Of our special
affection, we lovingly impart the apostolic
benediction to you, beloved son. to our vener-
able brethren, the Bishops of the United States
of America, and to all the clergy and faithful
committed TO your charge.
Given at Rome at st. Peters, the 17th day of
September A. d. 1889. in the 18th year of our
pontihcate. LEO p. T. XIII.