To Our Venerable Brother, John, Archbishop of New York.
Venerable Brother, Health and Apostolic Benediction: Amongst the various and most oppressive cares which weigh on us in those turbulent and perilous times, we are greatly afflicted by the truly lamentable state in which the Christian people of the United States of America are placed by the destructive civil war broken out amongst them.
For, venerable brother, we cannot but be overwhelmed with the deepest sorrow whilst we recapitulate, with paternal feelings, the slaughter, ruin, destruction, devastation, and the other innumerable and ever-to-be deplored calamities by which the people themselves are most miserably harassed and dilacerated. Hence, we have not ceased to offer up, in the humility of our hearts, our most fervent prayers to God, that He would deliver them from so many and so great evils.
And we are fully assured that you also, venerable brother, pray and implore, without ceasing, the Lord of Mercies to grant solid peace and prosperity to that country. But since we, by virtue of the office of apostolic ministry, embrace, with the deepest sentiments of charity, all the nations of the Christian world, and, though unworthy, administer here on earth the vicegerent work of Him who is Author of Peace and the Lover of Charity, we cannot refrain from inculcating again and again, on the minds of the people themselves, and their chief rulers, mutual charity and peace.
Wherefore, we write you this letter, in which we urge you, venerable brother, with all the force and earnestness of our mind, to exhort, with your eminent piety and episcopal zeal,your clergy and faithful, to offer up their prayers, and also apply all your study and exertion, with the people and their chief rulers, to restore forthwith the desired tranquility and peace by which the happiness of both the Christian and the civil republic is principally maintained. Wherefore, omit nothing you can undertake and accomplish by your wisdom, authority and exertion, as far as compatible with the nature of the holy ministry, to conciliate the minds of the combatants, pacify, reconcile, and bring back the desired tranquility and peace, by all those means that are most conductive to the best interests of the people.
Take every pains, besides, to cause the people and their chief rulers seriously to reflect on the grievous evils with which they are afflicted, and which are the result of civil war, the direst, most destructive and dismal of all the evils that could befall a people or nation.
Never omit to admonish and exhort the people and their supreme rulers, even in our name, that, with conciliated minds, they would embrace peace, and love each other with uninterrupted charity. For we are confident that they would comply with our paternal admonitions and hearken to our words that more willingly, as of themselves they plainly and clearly understand that we are influenced by no political reasons, no earthly considerations, but impelled solely by paternal charity, to exhort them to tranquillity and peace. And study with your surpassing wisdom, to persuade all that true prosperity even in this life, is sought for in vain out of the true religion of Christ and its salutary doctrines.
We have no hesitation, venerable brother, but that, calling, to your aid the services and assistance even of your associate bishops, you would abundantly satisfy these our wishes, and by your wise and prudent efforts bring a matter of such moment to a happy termination.
We wish you, moreover, to be informed that we write in a similar manner this very day to our venerable brother John Mary, archbishop of New Orleans, that counselling and conferring with you, he would direct all his thoughts and care most earnestly to accomplish the same object.
May God, rich in mercy, grant that these our most ardent desires be accomplished, and as soon as possible our hearts may exult in the Lord over peace restored to that people.
In fine, it is most pleasing to us to avail ourselves of this opportunity to again testify the special esteem in which we hold you. Of which, also, receive a most lovingly bestow on you, venerable brother, and thus flock committed to your charge.
Dated Rome, at St. Peter's, Oct. 18th, 1862, in the 17th year of our Pontificate.
Pope Pius IX
(Taken from The American Annual Cyclopedia and Register of Important Events of the Year 1863, Volume III., D. Appleton & Company, Page 819.)