This Papal Bull has been inscribed on the date of Twenty-Second of August, in the Twentieth and First century of our Lord.
(i.) Recognizing the various and incongruous papal precedents over the matters of human slavery, we enact this bull to formally codify this institution and the legal rights and regulations surrounding it. This bull does not mandate the legalization of slavery for catholic peoples, but merely reinforces their legal rights to them. It does, however, call immediately upon those formerly enslaved who have taken up unjust arms against their masters to lay down their arms and submit to the will of the church, and by extension, God. They have endeavored to weaken our security, to disturb our domestic peace and tranquility, and persistently refused to comply with their express theological and political obligations to us in reference to that property they've seized. Slavery, while not the bedrock our economy, is of vital interest to the Papal Empire. It shall remain eternally legal until such a time that it ceases to be advantageous, and this bull is repealed. While individual opinions regarding the institution (as divisive as it is) will be respected, hostile actions will not. Individuals who take active abolitionist actions against the Papal States and her mercantile interests will face excommunication and death. States who do so will face interdict. Continually aggressive states, war.
(ii.) While legal, the author of this bull's personal opinion is that of disgust. The Vicar of Christ sees all peoples as children of The Virgin Mother, and in doing so understands that all deserve to live a long life in devotion to proper religion. It is immense disgust we recognize the abject cruelty and depredations often inflicted upon those in servitude by their masters. Henceforth, the rights of the enslaved are enshrined the laws of God and the church. The enslaved are, by this decree, guaranteed the rights to personal property, profession, justice, and dignity. A master must clothe his slaves, must instruct them in the laws of God, must provide a livable habitation that even a free man could live in comfortably. A master may discipline those who break his law, but only within reasonable means. No longer shall we hear tales of those torn to pieces as their family watches. The enslaved whom perceive cruelty has been done unto them may petition the apostolic signatura. If convicted, the master will be executed all and those on his estates freed. The servants may and should be encouraged to seek professions that profit themselves and their masters. These profits and the properties purchased with them, including other slaves, are theirs alone. Further rights may be addendums included to this bull at a later date.
(iii.) Finally, this bull brings this Empire, The Papal States and the Kingdom of Spain, into the Munkcestrian RepubIic's alliance of slaveholding nations. Attached to this alongside our sacred seals will be the petition of joining, although we see this as a mere formality as our predecessors were apart of a similar alliance some time ago. 'We are in agreement with the notion of an alliance, not merely of military support, but of a mutual pact of economic trade and commerce between slaveholding empires and states.' We would provide your alliance not only religious legitimacy, but the financial backing of the Vatican's very, very, bountiful bank. We would also provide religious and secular legitimacy. This request of alliance has been conducted with the agreed concordats of the monarchies of Spain, Italian States, and France. Kings Viracocha de Borja, Paolo Borgia, and Louis XXII of Bourbon have all agreed to abide this alliance and the promulgation of this bull.
Written by His Holiness Pope Soter II, episcopus servus servorum Dei.
(i.) Recognizing the various and incongruous papal precedents over the matters of human slavery, we enact this bull to formally codify this institution and the legal rights and regulations surrounding it. This bull does not mandate the legalization of slavery for catholic peoples, but merely reinforces their legal rights to them. It does, however, call immediately upon those formerly enslaved who have taken up unjust arms against their masters to lay down their arms and submit to the will of the church, and by extension, God. They have endeavored to weaken our security, to disturb our domestic peace and tranquility, and persistently refused to comply with their express theological and political obligations to us in reference to that property they've seized. Slavery, while not the bedrock our economy, is of vital interest to the Papal Empire. It shall remain eternally legal until such a time that it ceases to be advantageous, and this bull is repealed. While individual opinions regarding the institution (as divisive as it is) will be respected, hostile actions will not. Individuals who take active abolitionist actions against the Papal States and her mercantile interests will face excommunication and death. States who do so will face interdict. Continually aggressive states, war.
(ii.) While legal, the author of this bull's personal opinion is that of disgust. The Vicar of Christ sees all peoples as children of The Virgin Mother, and in doing so understands that all deserve to live a long life in devotion to proper religion. It is immense disgust we recognize the abject cruelty and depredations often inflicted upon those in servitude by their masters. Henceforth, the rights of the enslaved are enshrined the laws of God and the church. The enslaved are, by this decree, guaranteed the rights to personal property, profession, justice, and dignity. A master must clothe his slaves, must instruct them in the laws of God, must provide a livable habitation that even a free man could live in comfortably. A master may discipline those who break his law, but only within reasonable means. No longer shall we hear tales of those torn to pieces as their family watches. The enslaved whom perceive cruelty has been done unto them may petition the apostolic signatura. If convicted, the master will be executed all and those on his estates freed. The servants may and should be encouraged to seek professions that profit themselves and their masters. These profits and the properties purchased with them, including other slaves, are theirs alone. Further rights may be addendums included to this bull at a later date.
(iii.) Finally, this bull brings this Empire, The Papal States and the Kingdom of Spain, into the Munkcestrian RepubIic's alliance of slaveholding nations. Attached to this alongside our sacred seals will be the petition of joining, although we see this as a mere formality as our predecessors were apart of a similar alliance some time ago. 'We are in agreement with the notion of an alliance, not merely of military support, but of a mutual pact of economic trade and commerce between slaveholding empires and states.' We would provide your alliance not only religious legitimacy, but the financial backing of the Vatican's very, very, bountiful bank. We would also provide religious and secular legitimacy. This request of alliance has been conducted with the agreed concordats of the monarchies of Spain, Italian States, and France. Kings Viracocha de Borja, Paolo Borgia, and Louis XXII of Bourbon have all agreed to abide this alliance and the promulgation of this bull.
Written by His Holiness Pope Soter II, episcopus servus servorum Dei.