[Translation.], this 3d of December, 1863, in the 18th year of our pontificate

[Translation.]

The Pope has made the following reply to President Jefferson Davis:

Illustrious and honorable president, greeting:

We have just received with all the proper benevolence the persons sent by you to deliver to us your letter under date of the 23d September last. We have experienced no ordinary pleasure on learning from those persons, and through this letter, with what sentiments of joy and gratitude you have been animated, illustrious and honorable president, so soon as you had knowledge of our letters to our venerable brothers, John, archbishop of New York, and John, archbishop of New Orleans, under date of the 18th of October of the last year, and in which we have, with all our power, excited and exhorted these venerable brothers to the end that, in their piety and their episcopal solicitude, they should endeavor, with the most ardent zeal, and in our name, to put an end to the fatal civil war which has broken out in those countries, in order that the American peoples should finally come to a common peace and concord, and to love one another charitably.

It has been particularly agreeable to us to learn that you, illustrious and honorable president, and these same peoples, are animated with the same desires of peace and tranquillity which we have, in our letters hereinbefore referred to, inculcated upon our aforenamed venerable brothers. May it at the same time please God that the other peoples of America, and their directing powers, considering seriously how grave a civil war is, and how great are the evils it entails, may be willing finally to listen to the inspirations of a more calm spirit, and adopt resolutely the cause of peace.

As to ourselves, we shall not cease to address the most fervent prayers to the all-powerful God, that he may bestow upon all the peoples of America a spirit of peace and charity, and that he may withdraw them from the very great evils which afflict them.

We supplicate at the same time the good and merciful God to bestow upon you the lights of His grace, and to attach you to us by a perfect union.