Letter from Jean Le Vacher to PF, 1681-05-29, Algiers

Letter from Jean Le Vacher to PF, 1681-05-29, Algiers

Algiers

Capuchins

Mercedarians

Slave priests

Slaves (Christian)

Letter from Jean Le Vacher to PF. The provicar of Tunis [Giuseppe Maria Da Bologna] gave Le Vacher some time ago a letter from PF dated 5 April 1680. In this letter PF asks him to inform them about the scandals committed by a Calabrian priest [Antonio Calandrino] and some other priests at the mission. He wrote directly to the provicar of Tunis asking for information about these cases, and the report he received in response, has been included in this letter. He also informs PF that at Tabarca and another place close to Capo Negro (which are both parts of the kingdom of Tunis), are inhabited by Genoese. In Tabarca there are only a few Augustinian priests, and at the other place, only a Trinitarian resides there, despite not receiving the permission of his superiors. Le Vacher does not know who grants these Augustinians and Trinitarian the authority to work as priests, and also whether or not they are subjected to the archbishop of Genoa; they claim that they are directly under the Holy See. He asks PF to clarify whether these two places are subjected to the vicariate of Tunis. He has also heard that the Mercedarian priests from Aragon will come in October to ransom slaves, and in April of the following year, will ransom those from the provinces of Castile and Andalusia. Le Vacher notes that due to his old age and his deteriorating health, the new priests will be of great assistance, as it is currently impossible for him to celebrate mass.

Date discussed: 1682-09-30

Additional comments

Jean Le Vacher

APF SOCG 498, 178r-179r

1681-05-29

[Adressed to PF]

For the minutes of the PF meeting where this matter was discussed, see: APF ACTA 51, 279r, 296v-299r (not yet in this database).
See for the report of the missionaries in Tunis: APF SOCG 498, f. 177r-v, 180r (database item 806).

Original: signed

Italian

Letter

807

Origin: Algiers

Destination: [Rome]