Barnabo, Alexander Cardinal Prefect, Rome, Papal States, to Archbishop John Baptist Purcell of, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1868 April 27

Barnabo has received Purcell's letter of February 24 conveying some information about the successor to the see of Marquette . He sees that there are difficulties and that all the necessary knowledge could not be gathered immediately. If the documents sent by Purcell had been submitted to the Sacred Congregation called for that purpose, Barnabo is certain they would have asked for a new report. Indeed, often and especially in regard to the recent decrees of the Council of Baltimore, both the Sacred Congregation counseled, and the Holy Father ordered that in the election of bishops the decrees of the Sacred Congregation would be followed, in so far as possible, in the business of the election of bishops. Especially ought to be followed, the rules prescribed by the encyclical letter of Jan. 21, 1861, which he quotes. 1. that when a see becomes vacant whether episcopal or metropolitan, all the bishops to whom it pertains to propose names to the Holy See shall meet to discuss the qualities of those proposed, according to the questions which have been printed for that purpose. 2. Before the meeting the bishop will send to the metropolitan or senior bishop the names of those they think should be proposed. 3. The qualities of the candidates are to be discussed in the meeting before the archbishop or senior bishop. 4. The acts of the meeting are to be sent to the Propaganda by the metropolitan or senior bishop. These things were always so, but to the Cardinals and the Holy Father seem more necessary to be required since on the examination of the findings of the Baltimore Council of 1866 they did not find information about the candidates which they are accustomed to find, and since the information is deficient about some, and, what is worse, against some who were proposed they have received adverse reports. Such being the case, Barnabo urges Purcell to use vigilance in this business and to follow these prescriptions completely and so to urge his fellow bishops that a good and vigilant pastor will be named for this flock, last he as one generally in command be changed with neglect. Signed by John Simeoni as secretary. No. 4. :: II-5-d L.S. Latin 2pp. 8vo.