Page:Christianity in China, Tartary, and Thibet Volume I.djvu/401

RESIGNATION OF FRANCO DE PEKOUSE. 389 Franco de Perouse soon resigned his see, whether that lie might devote himself in greater tranquillity to prayer and the contemplation of celestial things, or with the design of carrying still further the light of the Gospel, and of labouring more freely in the propaga- tion of the faith in the different countries of Asia. The brief of John XXII. , dated Avignon, June 1st, 1323, accepting the voluntary resignation of the ser- vant of God, favours the latter conclusion. The Pope permits Franco still to wear the insignia of the dignity he resigns, and to give the episcopal benediction to the Greeks, and to the people " amongst whom," says the pontiff, "you labour for the salvation of souls, and the progress of the Catholic faith." Guillaume Adam, the suffragan of Franco de Perouse, immediately succeeded him as metropolitan of Soultaniye. peror, as well as to the kings and princes of Ethiopia and India. We grant you full and free power to exercise all the authority apper- taining to the archiepiscopal character, as it is defined and decreed in the sacred canons, and according to the tenor of our pontifical letters. Wishing, then, that the truth of the Catholic faith should (by the help of God) continually make new progress, and shine through the whole extent of those regions, after having driven away the darkness, we have chosen six brethren of the order of Brothers Preachers, learned in the law of the Lord, distinguished by their life and religion, and commendable for their many virtues ; they are Gerard de Calvi, Guillaume Adam, Barthelemi de Podio, Bernardin de Plaisance, Bernard Moreti, and Barthelemi Abaliati. We chose them according to the advice of our brothers, and the plenitude of our power, and we constitute them bishops and pastors, and depute them to be your coadjutors in solicitude for those souls whose sal- vation has been entrusted to you. " Given at Avignon, 1st of May, 1318." ' 1 Raynald, t. xv. p. 168. c c 3