103: Against the Doctrine of Discovery: Lacrimabili Statu
Though much has thus been done for the Indians, there is much more that still remains to be done
Though much has thus been done for the Indians, there is much more that still remains to be done
We warn earnestly in the Lord faithful Christians of every condition that no one in the future dare to vex anyone, despoil him of his possessions, or reduce to servitude
We prohibit each and every one of the persons, under penalty of excommunication latae sententiae, to enslave the Indians
We declare that the Indians should be converted by preaching and example.
We exhort temporal princes, lords, captains, armed men, barons, soldiers, nobles, communities, and all others that they themselves desist from the aforementioned deeds.
We…give, grant, and assign to you and your heirs and successors, kings of Castile and Leon, forever…all islands and mainlands found and to be found, discovered and to be discovered towards the west and south.
We [therefore] weighing all and singular the premises with due meditation,…to invade, search out, capture, vanquish, and subdue all Saracens and pagans whatsoever, and other enemies of Christ wheresoever placed
We grant to you full and free power, through the Apostolic authority by this edict, to invade, conquer, fight, subjugate the Saracens and pagans, and other infidels and other enemies of Christ
Effective inter-religious dialogue requires that each religion fully understands itself.
The evangelisation model was Jesus’ preferred mode of propagating the faith, and he was explicit about it.