Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-01-20
THE ONLY CATHOLIC BISHOP OF
THE COLORED RACE.
Secular Papers Tribute to the
Late Mgr. Gomez Pimenta, OF
Marianna, Brazil.

The widespread ana enthusiastic
celebration the other day of the
Garrison centennial makes more
than ordinarily interesting any bit
OF news about the achievements oI
any member OF that long-oppressed
(and, indeed, still oppressed) race
for which Garrison dared and dii
so much. Hence the interest
which attaches to an account IN a
Spanish-American newspaper OF
Monsignor Gomez Pimenta, Bishop
OF Mariana, Brazil. who up 10 MS
recent death had the distinction CT
being the only Roman Catholic
Bishop OF the Negro Race in the
world. There are OF course. In
that worldwide Church clergymcn
OF the Negro race (there are two or
three in the United States). and
over one OF our North American d.
oceses there presided until recently
man who had some trace OF Ne
gro blood in his veins. But Mon
signor Gomez Pimenta. the Brazil
ian prelate. was the only full-blood
ed Negro Bishop, and now that he
has passed away there remains in
the Catholic Church no Bishop of
the African race.
The story of Monsignor Pimenta's
life is an inspiring record, a proof
OF what ability and merit will do.
and a further proof OF any were
needed after beholding the rise Of
Plus X, the present occupant Of
Peters chair) that in the Roman
Catholic Church apparently so au-
tocratic and aristocratlc, lowly ori-
gin is no bar TO the attainment OF
the highest Offices and honors.
Still further than this, Monsignor
Pimenta's life history is a most
striking instance of Negro progress
and achievement.
Silveria Gomez Pimenta was the
son Of slave parents. Born In ex-
treme poverty, he knew what It
was to be destitute and hungry.
When & child ne attended school
half naked and barefootei, but he
was from the first remarkable for
his application and his good con-
duct. He was. in fact, so excellent
a school boy that his case came to
the attention OF the Archbishop OF
Balua, who took a liking to the ex-
ceptional young Negro and placed
him after some time, in the semi
nary Of HIS see city. Here Pimenta
now young man, pursued HIS stud
les for the priesthood, winning ad-
miration on all sides, not only for
his intellectual rowers, but for the
kindness and nobility of his heart
Or 1ained a priest, he cvercame the
which exist against Ne
groes even in Catholic countries
Cthough these are by no means so
strong as the prejndice against Ne
groes which prevails in the United
States) and was given ecclesiastical
charges and Offices of much impor- |
tance, in which he bore himself so |
well and SO creditably that while |
still quite young, he was raised TO !
the episcopal dignity as Auxiliary |
Bishop to the Diocese of BaIua. In |
this office he still won favor. and |
when, in 1902, the late Pope Leo
XIII restored the Diocese of Mar |
lanna' Amazon. whose area was 300 !
OOO square kilometres and whose |
population two million, he designa- |
ted as its prelate the Negro Bishop. |
This new Office was by no means |
sinecure. For years the Bishops |
territory had been more or less ne
elected, and the state OF religion
was far from ideal. He was almost |
alone and without resources in his
vast diocese. Added TO this, it had
been the scene OF an anti-Cathonc |
propaganda which rendered the new
Bishops task particularly difficult. |
But this son of slave parents, VINO
had overcome so many obstacles in
his life, was not discouraged by the
situation, no matter how hopeless
II seemed He bent every effort TO
the work IN hand-the building and
maintaining of churches, schools.
seminaries, houses OF charity, etc.,
and gave so little thought to him
self and hi own dignity as Bishop