Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF, [1652]
Tunis
Petitions for faculties
CM petitions
Slaves (Christian)
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher, vicar apostolic in Tunis, to PF. He asks for three things: a) a new decree that clearly states that all members of religious orders (whether free or slaves), fall under his authority, and that he recieves the faculties to punish them with ecclesiastical censures if they refuse to obey; b) that all ceremonies other than the ones prescribed in the Roman liturgy be forbidden; and c) that he can grant other priest's the faculty of reading mass one hour before dawn, and one hour after midday, so that the many slaves who have to work from the break of day onwards, can attend mass. PF agrees to the first and third point, and order that nothing be changed with respect to the second.
Date discussed [1652-09-09]
Additional comments
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 248, 264r-v, 289v
[1652]
Addressed to PF
For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 21, 107r, 109r-v, issue 11 (database item 543).
Italian
Latin
Petition
444
Origin: [Tunis]
Destination: Rome
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF, [1653]
Tunis
Petitions for faculties
CM petitions
Slaves (Christian)
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher, vicar apostolic in Tunis, to PF. He writes that there are many slaves in Tunis, but too few priests, meaning that not all slaves can easily attend mass (as they used to). Therefore he asks for the faculty that he, and one other priest appointed by him, may say mass three times a day on Sundays and on feast days.
Date discussed [1653-12-16]
Additional comments
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 248, 260r, 293v
[1653]
Addressed to PF
For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 22, 136r, 143r, issue 28 (database item 551).
Italian
Petition
441
Origin: [Tunis]
Destination: Rome
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF, [1654]
Tunis
Petitions for faculties
CM petitions
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher, vicar apostolic in Tunis, to PF asking for the renewal of his faculties of apostolic missionary, granted to him by a decree of 22 June 1648.
Date discussed 1654-07-13
Additional comments
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 248, 262r, 291v
[1654]
Addressed to PF
For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 23, 68r, 73r, issue 25 (database item 558).
Italian
Petition
442
Origin: [Tunis]
Destination: Rome
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF, [1655]
Tunis
CM petitions
Slaves (Christian & Muslim)
Civitavecchia
Slave priests
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher, vicar apostolic in Tunis to PF. He writes that the [Muslim] slaves in Civitavecchia have sent their complaints to the ruler of Tunis, stating that the land they had bought to bury their dead, has been taken from them. Le Vacher heard that the ruler of Tunis summoned all Christian priests and Christians present in the city, and told them that were the situation in Civitavecchia to remain unchanged, the Christian cemetery in Tunis would be destroyed. Jean Le Vacher therefore asks that the cardinals remedy this problem, and have the slaves in Civitavecchia write to Tunis. In their general meeting of 12 July 1655, the cardinals decide to ask the general treasurer to provide more information about the matter.
Date discussed 1655-07-12
Additional comments
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 248, 257r, 296v
[1655]
Addressed to PF
For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 24, 35r, 38r-v, issue 10 (database item 527).
Italian
Latin
Petition
440
Origin: [Tunis]
Destination: Rome
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF, [1655]
Tunis
CM petitions
Slaves (Christian)
Conversion
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher, vicar apostolic in Tunis, asking that PF cardinals see to remedy the problem of many slaves in Tunis never having received the sacrament of confirmation. Without confirmation, many are in danger of renegading.
Additional comments
Date based on two letters sent by Jean Le Vacher in April 1655. See: APF SOCG 248, 299r-v, 301r (database item 449).
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 248, 263r, 290v
[1655]
Addressed to PF
Italian
Petition
443
Origin: [Tunis]
Destination: Rome
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF, [1659]
Tunis
Bizerte
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher, vicar apostolic in Tunis, in which he asks for plenary indulgences for the feasts of the patron saints of the chapels in the bagnos of Tunis and Bizerte. Monsignor refuses to send them in two packages as was done in the past, because it would be too risky to send such a package to a far away and barbarous country. The cardinals are asked if it cannot be done anyway, as it has been sent in the past.
Additional comments
Date based on the other dates of this SOCG.
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 254, 5r, 6r, 7v
[1659]
Addressed to PF
Italian
Petition
378
Origin: [Tunis]
Destination: Rome
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF, [1664]
Tunis
Petitions for faculties
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF asking for the renewal of his faculties of vicar general of Tunis since they are about to expire. At PF general meeting of 22 September 1664 the cardinals approve the request.
Date discussed 1664-09-22
Additional comments
In the corresponding Acta, on f. 123v, the rescript reads: "S. Congr’o annuit ad aliud septennium", whereas on the petition itself (f. 69v) the notes only read: "S.C. Annuit": APF ACTA 33, 119r 123v.
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 254, 68r, 69v
[1664]
Addressed to PF
For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 33, 119r, 123v (same information; not in this database).
Italian
Latin
Petition
386
Origin: [Tunis]
Destination: Rome
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF, [1666]
Petitions for faculties
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher in which he asks that his faculties include all the privileges that he held in the past. In 1652 he had been given the authority to give apostolic missionary faculties to priests who had not been approved by PF; PF secretary notes, however, stated that in all the faculties given to prefects and vicars apostolic, the clause was included that all faculties could only be transmitted to priests that are approved by PF. During their general meeting of 12th of April 1666, the cardinals decide to grant Le Vacher the requested faculties for three years, but he needs to communicate the names of the priests to whom he transmits his faculties, so that PF can approve them. A second request of Le Vacher regards the faculties to give a plenary indulgence to all those who will confess and receive Holy Communion in the days of Christmas, Easter, Pentecost and the Assumption of Mary. And also to those who are about to leave on the galleys, and an indulgence of ten years to those who will listen to the homilies of the vicar. This has to be asked to the pope.
Date discussed 1666-04-12
Additional comments
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 254, 100r-v, 101r, 102v, 103v
[1666]
Addressed to PF
For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 35, 89r, 92v-93r (same information; not in this database).
Italian
Latin
Petition
388
Origin: [Tunis]
Destination: Rome
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF, [1671]
Barbary (unspecified or several locations)
Algiers
Petitions for faculties
Salé
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher, vicar apostolic in Algiers, to PF. He asks: a) that PF either send missionaries to Tetouan, Salé, Fez, and Morocco, or give him the faculties to do so; and b) whether as vicar apostolic of Algiers and Tunis, or as vicar general, he also has the authority over the surrounding areas where there are many Christians, especially in the Bastion [de France]. If this is not the case, he asks for the needed faculties. At the meeting of 27 April 1671 the cardinals agree to give him the requested faculties to appoint missionaries for the other cities. With regard to the second issue they decide that the secretary should check whether it is the case, and that if not, the needed faculties should be requested [at the Holy Office].
Date discussed 1671-04-27
Additional comments
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 427, 238r, 239r, 240v, 241v
[1671]
Addressed to PF
Italian
Latin
Petition
651
Origin: [Algiers]
Destination: Rome
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF, [1675]
Algiers
CM petitions
Slave priests
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF. Le Vacher requested financial help for the slave priests in Algiers, as they live in great poverty and have to pay their masters 3 piastre each month. The rescript is "nihil."
Date discussed 1675-07-30
Additional comments
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 453, 11r, 12v
[1675]
Addressed to PF
Italian
Latin
Petition
655
Origin: [Algiers]
Destination: Rome
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher to PF, [1678]
Algiers
CM petitions
Capuchins
Petitions for faculties
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher, vicar apostolic in Algiers to PF in which he asks: a) for the faculties of vicar general of Carthage; b) for the permission to administer the sacrament of confirmation; and c) for the faculties of provicar for the Capuchin Giuseppe Maria da Bologna, who he appointed to replace Grisostomo da Genova. During their meeting of 22 August 1678 the cardinals decide not to consent to the first two requests, but they do agree with the third.
Date discussed 1678-08-22
Additional comments
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 470, 167r, 168v
[1678]
Addressed to PF
For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 48, 152r, 154r-v, issue 8 (database item 679).
Italian
Latin
Petition
663
Origin: [Aligers]
Destination: Rome
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher, [1670]
Franciscans
Seravezza case
CM petitions
Tunis
Ransom
Tripoli
Petition on behalf of Giovanni il Vacher [Jean Le Vacher] to PF. As he is vicar apostolic of Algiers and Tunis and therefore has the power to appoint a substitute, he has sent a Capuchin priest [Luigi Da Palermo], from Sicily to Tunis; the slaves, priests and consul in the city and the Knights of Malta also asked him to send the priest. Le Vacher ransomed the Capuchin priest for 600 piastre, with the authority of vicar apostolic for three years. He has heard that Antonio Di Seravezza has returned to the mission of Tunis and Tripoli (which his order of the Minor Observants has control of), and according to a letter that Di Seravezza wrote to Le Vacher (and that Le Vacher will now sent to PF), he asks PF what should be done. Summary on the back. Monsignore [Federico Baldeschi?, the secretary] says that not only has Seravezza never been made vicar, but he he has also never been made missionary; the missions of Tunis and Tripoli were also never assigned to the Minor Observants. PF agrees with the appointment of the Sicilian Capuchin [Luigi Da Palermo] as vicar apstolic of Tunis.
Date discussed: 1670-11-10
Additional comments
Date based on the date of the discussion of this document in PF.
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 424, 263r, 264v
[1670]
Adressed to [PF]
For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 39, 197r, 203r-v, issue 18 (database item 670). See for the letter of PF to Jean Le Vacher in which they approved his appointment of Luigi Da Palermo: APF LETTERE 55, 74r (database item 600).
copy; signed; undated
Italian
Latin
Petition
755
Origin: unknown
Destination: Rome
Petition on behalf of Jean Le Vacher, [1670]
Algiers
CM petitions
Discalced Carmelites
Mercedarians
Trinitarians
Tunis
Petition on behalf of Gio' il Vacher [Jean Le Vacher]. There are priests of the Redemption Orders in Algiers and Tunis who grant indulgences, resolve reserved cases, say mass outside the chapels wherever they want, administer the sacraments, and preach according to the privileges that they claim to have, but which they refuse to show. On one hand Le Vacher does not want to stop them from the work they are doing, but on the other hand he also wants to fulfill the obligations that PF has given him. That is why he asks PF if he should ask them to show their privilges, or whether he should allow them to work as they already do. Summary on the back. According to the secretary of PF [Federico Baldeschi] there has been a similar case before, in which Discalced Carmelites worked in the Scottish mission under the authority of the Custodian of the Holy Land; it was decided that the priests had to show their patents. For the question whether they should receive the license or not, it was decided that they should be allowed to work as priests. PF decides to hear what the superiors of the Trinitarians and the Mercedarians have to say regarding the matter.
Date discussed: 1670-11-10
Additional comments
Date based on the date of the discussion of this document in PF.
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 424, 265r, 266v
[1670]
For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 39, 197r, 203v-204r, issue 19 (database item 671).
See for the anwer of PF to Jean Le Vacher: APF LETTERE 55, 73v (database item 597).
See for the letter of PF to the superiors of the Trinitarians and Mercedarians: APF LETTERE 55, 76v (database item 602).
copy; signed; undated
Italian
Latin
Petition
756
Origin: [Algiers]
Destination: Rome
Report from Jean Le Vacher to PF, 1654-01-29, Tunis
Tunis
Mission reports
Slaves (Christian)
Extensive report by Jean Le Vacher, vicar apostolic in Tunis, on the situation in the city and of the slaves, the spiritual assistance of the priests, the hospitals, the chapels of the bagnos, and the problem of apostasy. The report signed and dated 29 January 1654.
Additional comments
Jean Le Vacher
APF SOCG 248, 273r-280v 286v
Both the Italian original and an English translation have been published by A. Forrestal and F. Roşu, in: 'Slavery on the Frontier: The Report of a French Missionary on Mid-Seventeenth-Century Tunis', Reformation & Renaissance Review, vol. 14 no. 2 (2012), 170-211.
1654-01-29
Addressed to PF
See for the accompanying letter: APF SOCG 248, 298r (database item 448).
Italian
Report
447
Origin: Tunis
Destination: Rome