CONFIRMATION OF THE COUNCIL

WE, Alessandro di Farnese, cardinal-deacon of Saint Lawrence in Damaso, vice-chancellor of the holy Roman Church, do certify and attest, that, on this day, being Wednesday, the twenty-sixth of January, 1564, in the fifth year of the pontificate of our most holy lord Pius IV., by the providence of God, Pope, the most reverend my lords the Cardinals Morone and Simonetta, lately returned from the sacred Council of Trent, whereat they had presided as legates of the Apostolic See, did, in a secret consistory, held at St. Peter’s, petition our said most holy lord as follows:

Most blessed Father; in a decree concerning the closing of the œcumenical Council of Trent, published the day before the nones of December last, it was ordained, that, through the legates and presidents of your Holiness, and of the holy Apostolic See, confirmation should be requested from your Holiness, in the name of the said council, of all and each of the said things which were therein decreed and defined, as well under Paul III. and Julius III., of happy memory, as under your Holiness. Wherefore, we, John, Cardinal Morone, and Louis, Cardinal Simonetta, who were then legates and presidents, wishing to execute what was settled in that decree, do humbly petition in the name of the said œcumenical Council of Trent, that your Holiness would vouchsafe to confirm all and each of the things which have therein been decreed and defined, as well under Paul III. and Julius III., of happy memory, as under your Holiness.

Upon hearing which, his Holiness, having regarded and read the tenor of the said decree, and having taken the votes of the most reverend lords the cardinals, replied in these words:

Acceding to the petition made to us by the legates aforesaid, in the name of the œcumenical Council of Trent, touching the confirmation thereof, We, with apostolic authority, and with the counsel and assent of our venerable brethren the cardinals, having previously held mature deliberation with them, do confirm all and each of the things which have been decreed and defined in the said council, as well under Paul III. and Julius III., of happy memory, as during the time of our pontificate; and we command that the same be received and inviolably observed by all the faithful of Christ; In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

So it is.

A. Cardinal FARNESE,

Vice-Chancellor.