3 Considering these things with care, and sorrowing over the wretchedness of somany men, whom We saw to be wandering like sheep on steep and difficult placeswithout a shepherd, and at the same time calling to mind the charity andteaching of the Eternal Father, We considered it to be Our duty to hasten, withall the help in Our power, to prepare healthy pastures, and by every possibleexertion to advance their salvation and their good. And We did so with thegreater goodwill because the love for men who spring from the same race asourselves makes Us more zealous for their benefit, and We had the certain hopethat your zeal and assistance would never be wanting to Us. Wherefore Weordained that in the Sacred Council of Propaganda this matter should bediscussed, and We issued commands that when the remedies had been carefullyinquired into and well weighed, by means of which these evils might be crushed,or a least alleviated, the most opportune should be laid before Us, bothquestions being at the same time carefully considered, namely, the salvation ofsouls and the lessening of the material distress of the emigrants as far aspossible. Moreover, as the principal cause of the growing ill lay in this, thatthese unhappy men were without the help of a priestly ministry by means of whichthe grace of heaven is given and increased, We determined to send from Italy tothat land many priests to console their countrymen in their own tongue, to teachthe faith and the obligations of the Christian life, which were unknown orneglected, to administer to them the saving sacraments, to spread among therising generation religion and charity - in fine to help all of every class, byword and work, and to assist them by all the duties of the priestly office. Andfor the fuller and more convenient accomplishment of this, We founded, by Ourletter of December 15th, last year, sealed by the seal of the Fisherman, theApostolic College of Priests in the Episcopal See of Placentia, under the careof the Venerable Brother John Baptist, Bishop of Placentia, in whichecclesiastics, stimulated by Christ's love, might be practiced in those dutiesand that discipline by which they might well and worthily fulfil Christ'smission among the scattered sons of Italy, and become fit dispensers of God's mysteries.
Source: Quam Aerumnosa (Vatican.va)