Letter from PF to the vicar of Algiers, [Benjamin-Joseph Huguier], Rome, [1662]
Africa (other than Barbary)
Algiers
Petitions for faculties
Slaves (Christian)
Slave priests
Letter from PF to the vicar apostolic of Algiers [Benjamin-Joseph Huguier]. PF feels sorry for father Clemente Da Maenza (who when leaving Rome to return to his mission in Congo), was imprisoned and brought as a slave to Algiers. Despite PF hoping he will not be there for too long, they believe that a fruitful use of his time, is to help the Christian slaves. For this reason they ask Huguier to grant Da Maenza the needed faculties; PF is also asked to grant Father Mariano Da Orta the needed faculties, as he also finds himself in the same situation as Da Maenza.
Additional comments
PF
APF Lettere 43, 27r-v
[1662]
[Adressed to Benjamin-Joseph Huguier]
copy; unsigned
Italian
Letter
816
Origin:[Rome]
Destination: Algiers
Letter from PF to Jean Le Vacher, 1671-08-03
Algiers
Capuchins
Slaves (Christian)
Tunis
Ransom
Letter from PF to Gio' Levacher [Jean Le Vacher], vicar apostolic of Algiers. PF understands that Le Vacher has always cared for the Christians who stay in the areas assigned to him. It is also well known to PF that Le Vacher has always tried to increase the esteem that PF has for him. Now they have come to understand that Le Vacher has ransomed Luigi Da Palermo (a Capuchin priest), at his own expense. It is believed that Da Palermo is very gifted, and he has not only been recommended by PF, but has also been assigned the cure of the slaves in Tunis. PF remind Le Vacher that he has to pay attention to the behavior of Da Palermo.
Additional comments
PF
APF Lettere 57, 88r
1671-08-03
Adressed to Jean Le Vacher
This is probably an answer to a letter by Jean Le Vacher, see: APF SOCG 429, 278r-279v (database item 716).
copy; unsigned
Italian
Letter
863
Origin: [Rome]
Destination: Algiers
Letter from Giuseppe Maria Da Bologna, Francesco Gatta and Vincenzo Da Frascati to Jean Le Vacher, 1678-05-03, Tunis
Tunis
Capuchins
Mercedarians
Other religious orders
Ransom
Slave priests
Slaves (Christian)
Letter Giuseppe Maria Da Bologna, Francesco Gatta and Vincenzo Da Frascati to Jean Le Vacher. Three days ago they received a letter from Jean Le Vacher, in which he asked them to inform him about the scandals that have been taking place in the church of Tunis. They had previously informed him of the problems, and had followed Le Vacher's instructions, by trying to alter the habits of some slave priests. The most troublesome of them is Antonio Calendino, who claimed to be a priest but had no papers to back this up. He himself told the missionaries that he had been in prison for four years in Naples, after being condemned for murder. The missionaries wrote to the archbishop for more information about Calendino, but they never received an answer. They allowed him to administer the sacraments, as they were afraid that if they did not allow this, Calendino would expel the missionaries from the mission with help from his patron Ali Bei. The problems with him grew worse, as his patron (who has good ties with the ruling house) used him as jester, singing and playing the guitar, whilst receiving women in his house. He was walking around the bagnos causing problems and disturbing the mass. They could not do anything against him because they did not want to be forced to leave, which would have resulted in the misson being abandoned. Eventually he was ransomed after committing more scandalous acts, and sent on a boat to Livorno. After his departure, other Christians told the missionaries admitted truths about Calendino, that are so scandalous that they cannot be possibly true; however they will leave them for what they are.
The second scandal was on 17 October 1679 when Diego d'Avalos (a Mecedarian priest from Cagliari also known as Padre Diego), was called by a woman and entered her house. When the husband returned he tried to kill Diego with a pistol, but the priest escaped; the two met again and this time the husband shot Diego. Three or four hours later after having confessed, he died. Another priest was wounded in the hand during the altercation, for which mass had to be suspended for a month. As he wanted to better his live, the mass was eventually returned to him, and now he is living quietly and devoutly. The third scandal was when a Minim pirest Felice Da Marta, was playing cards. He did this so often that he neglected his priestly duties. Sometimes he was playing from the evening till morning, and many Christians complained about this. Felice was lucky and won 80 pezze da otto from Giuseppe Calibrò, a Sicilian slave of the Pasha. But later Felice was forced to pay the slave the money back. Because the priest was not the slave of an influential person it was easy to aprehend him, and to forbid him to ever play cards again; from that moment on, he did not play anymore.
The fourth scandal involved another priest, Carlo Vella Maltese Zocerlante, who was already ransomed but had not yet returned home. One day he was playing carts with a Greek, Constanino, who had also been ransomed. They had a fight about the game and blood was spilled. The Greek went to the missionaries to complain. The Greek was imprisoned by the Bey, who the next day called on the cities priests (both missionaries and slaves), and asked them if it was legal for a priest to play cards. The response given to the Bey, is that it is not legal, and even strongly prohibited. The Bey handed over the priest so that he could be punished. Whilst the Greek was enslaved again, they chained the priest inside his Bagno. They were warned however that the Greeks were trying to enforce the Bey to enslave Carlo again, hence why they put him on an English ship travelling to Livorno. Whilst these are the most imported things that happened, they are not completely sure about the exact dates, and the precise circumstances. They ask Le Vacher to not send any more slave priests to them, unless they are found to be exceptionally useful.
Date discussed: 1682-09-30
Additional comments
Judging by a later letter from Jean Le Vacher, this letter was originally sent to Jean Le Vacher, who then sent it (together with his own letter) to PF. See APF SOCG 498, f. 178r-179r (database item 807).
Giuseppe Maria Da Bologna
Francesco Gatta, Vincenzo Da Frascati
APF SOCG 498, 177r-v, 180r
1678-05-03
Adressed to Jean Le Vacher
For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 51, 279r (not yet in this database).
Original: signed
Italian
French
Letter
806
Origin: Tunis
Destination: Algiers
Letter from PF to Jean Le Vacher, 1679-09-11, Rome
Algiers
Trinitarians
Letter from PF to Jean Le Vacher about several complaints that the Spanish Trinitarians in Algiers have made against Le Vacher. The first regards the fact that Jean Le Vacher forbade the display of their coat of arms. The letter states that Le Vacher (like all PF missionaries), should not be involved in political or economical issues. Second, PF states that it would be useful to keep consecrated bread in the hospitals of the Trinitarians, something which Le Vacher had forbidden. And lastly, the cardinals decided that Catholic patients should be kept separate from non-Catholic patients in the hospitals, although Le Vacher had suggested the opposite. Regarding the Trinitarians' request to be exempted from obeying Le Vacher’s authority, the letter states that all Trinitarians in the area will always have to receive permission from the vicar apostolic, before they can decide on matters that regard the administration of the sacraments; this will also be written to the superior of the Trinitarians. Le Vacher in turn, will have to behave prudently with them. He is also ordered to give faculties to the two Napolitan priests, and to all others who come with patents from PF; their appointment has sufficiently been thought over by PF and does not need to be questioned. Lastly, Le Vacher is ordered to send an answer showing that he will obey the cardinals' decisions. The letter dated 11 September 1679.
Additional comments
PF
APF LETTERE 68, 58v-60v
1679-09-11
Addressed to Jean Le Vacher
Italian
Letter
636
Origin: Rome
Destination: Algiers
Letter from the PF secretary [Edoardo Cibo] to Jean Le Vacher, 1680-04-30, Rome
Tripoli
Algiers
Non-Catholic Christians
Letter from the secretary of PF [Edoardo Cibo] to Jean Le Vacher, vicar apostolic of Algiers. They ask that he repimand the Christians in Tripoli, to ensure that they all go to the priests of their respective rites, when they want to receive the sacraments. The letter dated 30 April 1680.
Additional comments
[Edoardo Cibo]
APF LETTERE 69, 127r
1680-04-30
Addressed to Jean Le Vacher
Italian
Letter
640
Origin: Rome
Destination: Algiers