Page:Christianity in China, Tartary, and Thibet Volume I.djvu/400

388 388 CHRISTIANITY IN CHINA, ETC John XXII. was so persuaded that the presence of Franco de Perouse was necessary in a country where he was regarded as an apostle, that without heeding ancient custom, according to which new metropolitans ought to go in person to the holy see, there to receive consecration, he ordered that the Archbishop of Soul- taniye should receive on the spot (as John de Monte Corvino had formerly done) the imposition of hands and the investiture of the pallium. William Adam, who had been himself consecrated at Avignon, had the charge of performing the ceremony, and of presenting the apos- tolical letters to his metropolitan.* archiepiscopal see amongst the Tartars : — " John XXII. to his clear son, Franco de Perouse, of the Brothers Preachers, archbishop elect of Soultaniye. " Our heart has recently felt an immense joy in learning that in Persia and the neighbouring countries, subject to the great Emperor of the Tartars, the magnificent nursery garden of the faithful, planted by the mercy of the Creator, and regenerated by the waters of baptism, fervently adores the name of the Most High, and celebrates the praises of the Redeemer. In order to gratify their pious desires, we have occupied ourselves with zeal and solicitude in the choice of men full of honour and virtue, that they might be sent to labour in the cultivation of this new vine, whose branches, by the grace of God, shall grow and extend throughout those countries to the ex- tremities of the earth. Consequently, we have erected Soultaniye, the most famous, noble, and populous city in these regions, into a metropolitan city, according to the advice of our brothers, and the plenitude of our apostolical power. We have cast our eyes on you, who are the preacher of the word of God in those countries ; and convinced of the sanctity of your life, of your acquaintance with letters, and the abundance of your virtues, we constitute you arch- bishop and pastor of that city. ' f We entrust to you the absolute care, administration, and solici- tude for all the souls existing in those countries subject to the Em-
 * This is the translation of the pontifical bull, erecting this new