Pope Pius V | Papal Bull, on the conversion of the native population of the Americas, 1571

Pope Pius V

Papal Bull 'Unigeniti Dei', on the conversion of indigenous peoples in Central and South America, 

addressed to the Dominican provinces of St. Vincent of Chiappa, St. James of New Spain, St. John the Baptist of Peru, St. Anthony of the New Kingdom, and the Province of Santa Cruz in the Island of San Domenico in the ocean, outlining the commitment to the instruction and conversion of the indigenous populations, ratifying the appointment of Franciscus de Victo as procurator of the provinces, and granting apostolic indulgence to all those who continue the work of propagating Christianity in the Central American provinces and "in illis remotissimis partibus" of the New World, in Latin, 60 lines, plus heading in capitals, written in dark brown ink in a fine slightly sloping italic script with flourishes at beginning and end, signed by Papal Secretary Cardinal César Grolier ("Cae: Glorierius") at the foot, on vellum, papal stamp on verso, address panel "Pro Provincia Sancti Antonii Novo Regno Indiarum", endorsements, strip of vellum sewn along bottom edge, 505 x 660mm, [Rome, 30 October 1571] some stains, creased and rather worn at folds

THE ORIGINAL BULL SENT BY PIUS V TO NEW GRANADA (NOW COLUMBIA AND VENEZUELA) IN SUPPORT OF THE MISSIONARY WORK OF THE DOMINICAN ORDER IN THE NEW WORLD. Dominicans such as Bartolomé de Las Casas and the theologian Francisco de Vitoria had been amongst the first and most vocal critics of the Spanish treatment of the native populations in their new empire in the Americas, giving rise to significant unrest between religious and secular delegations to America. Philip II of Spain tried during the Council of Trent to reduce the authority of the friars in America, and the present bull, issued by a Dominican pope and within three weeks of the Battle of Lepanto (when the papal navy defeated the Ottomans), reaffirms the papal control over the spiritual work of the provinces (cf. H.J. Hernaez, Coleccion de Bulas . . . relativos a la Iglesia de Americas y Filipinas, Brussels, 1879, I, pp.403-4). One copy was prepared for each province. This is the copy sent to the New Kingdom, New Granada.

PROVENANCE:

Sotheby's, London, 23 June 1987, lot 36