Letter of His Holiness Pope Pius X to Cardinal Pietro Respighi

TO THE LORD CARDINAL

PIETRO RESPIGHI

our Vicar General

Lord Cardinal,

The need to provide, as far as possible, for the religious instruction of tender youth has counseled Us to print a Catechism that sets forth clearly the rudiments of the holy faith and those divine truths to which the life of every Christian must conform. Accordingly, having had examined the many textbooks already in use in the Dioceses of Italy, it seemed fitting to Us to adopt, with slight modifications, the text already approved for several years by the Bishops of Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy, Emilia and Tuscany. The use of this text shall be obligatory for public and private teaching in the Diocese of Rome and in all the others of the Roman Province; and We trust that the other Dioceses too will wish to adopt it, so as to arrive at that single text — at least throughout all Italy — which is the universal desire.

With this sweet hope We impart from Our whole heart to you, Lord Cardinal, the Apostolic Blessing.

From the Vatican, 14 June 1905.

PIUS PP. X