Daniel Comboni wrote to Pope Leo

Fr. Jorge Naranjo, mccj

In 1878 Daniel Comboni wrote to Pope Leo XIII, just elected pope, to congratulate him and claim his attention about the Mission of the Vicariate of CEntral Africa, “the largest, most populated and most trying and difficult Mission in the world”:

N. 775 (736) – TO LEO XIII
“Museo delle Missioni Cattoliche” XXI (1878), pp. 577–579

Khartoum in Upper Nubia 28 June 1878, feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Most Holy Father,

[5213]
I should long ago have presented, at Your Holiness’s throne, the fullest offering of my respects, my services and my boundless devotion, because upon my arrival in Khartoum, around the middle of April, I had the consoling news of your propitious and prodigious exaltation to the Chair of St Peter. But the indescribable fatigue of an eventful journey from Cairo to here, taking all of 77 days, the extremely tiring crossing of the great desert in a heat of nearly 60 degrees, and the serious resumption of my care for my arduous and difficult Vicariate, which I found oppressed by the scourge of a terrifying famine, led me, without my realising it, to procrastinate until today this most respectful, cordial and filial oblation; I therefore made do in the meantime with conveying to you my homage and congratulations by means of the Venerable Cardinal Prefect of Propaganda and the worthy Cardinal Secretary of State.
[5214]
Most Holy Father, I am now writing to you on my own behalf and on behalf of all the priests and workers for the Gospel who are members of the Institute of the Missions of Africa, of the good Sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition, who work with such zeal in my Vicariate, and of the Missionary Sisters of my Institute of Verona, founded under the auspices of the Most Eminent Cardinal di Canossa. Allow us all, together with all your faithful children scattered throughout the world, to offer you our humble and very warmest greetings, with which we too salute you as Pontiff and King, as Vicar of Jesus Christ on earth and as the worthy successor of the angelic Pius IX. He was holy, strong and great, and in him the omnipotence and love of God was radiant, making him its sublime image and its true likeness. Be pleased to accept the deep homage of our hearts and the warmest and sincerest wishes of our humble, perfect and unlimited submission, reverence and affection.
[5215]
Leo, God’s chosen one, you are the precious gift the heart of God held in the infinite treasures of his love for the Church to console her in the most mournful widowhood in which she had remained with the loss of Your Holy Predecessor. You are the high priest of the New Covenant, the expert Pilot of the mystic ark of the eternal Alliance, outside which there is no salvation, the great Centre of the Catholic Unity, which Pius IX sublimated to the apex of its perfection and greatness. You are the corner-Stone of the Church of Jesus Christ, the sincere Witness of her revelation, the faithful Depository of her Doctrine, the infallible Interpreter of her oracles, the fearless Supporter of her Altars, the just Vindicator of her Law, the legitimate Propagator of her Religion, the unvanquished Lion of Juda, the most brilliant Star spreading true light throughout the darkness of the Universe, the Supreme Pontiff, the infallible Master of the truth, the Supreme Shepherd of souls. Inspired by you, the world looks for peace. The world hopes that you will unite all under the shade of the one Sheepfold of Jesus Christ.
[5216]
Yet among these souls, who look to the Vicar of Jesus Christ for a blessing and for life, are the hundred and more million non-believers who make up the Vicariate of Central Africa, which is the largest, most populated and most trying and difficult Mission in the world. We, the members of the three above-named Institutes, are ready to bear all the difficulties, privations, dangers, scorching weather, and all kinds of sufferings and trials which unfailingly accompany our dangerous and thorny apostolate. We are always ready to suffer martyrdom to win for the Catholic Church so great and desolate a part of Christ’s flock. All our trust is placed in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, in St Joseph and in you too, Peter living again, visible head of the mystical Body of the Incarnate Word, from whom there springs the word of salvation and the source of true life.
[5217]
Deign therefore, O Leo, to look from your lofty throne towards this abandoned part of the sublime heritage of Christ, for whose redemption we consecrate our mind and heart, our blood and life. Grant to these lands a special blessing that will bring them to true life. I, for my part, prostrate myself before your Majesty, our Pontiff and King, and renewing the fullest and sincerest offering of my homage, service and unlimited devotion, implore for all of us your Apostolic Blessing.

• Daniel Comboni
  Bishop of Claudiopolis i.p.i.
  Vicar Apostolic of Central Africa