Convention between the Canton of Ticino and the Holy See for the establishment of an Apostolic Administration in the Republic and Canton of Ticino

The Apostolic Administrator shall be free to exercise his spiritual jurisdiction throughout the territory of the Canton of Ticino.

He shall have full liberty in the choice of his Vicar and the personnel of his chancellery, as well as in the publication of his pastoral letters and other acts pertaining to his spiritual ministry.

The Apostolic Administrator shall provisionally reside in Balerna. It is, however, agreed that his definitive seat shall subsequently be established in one of the cities of the canton, to be chosen by mutual agreement.

The Government of the Canton of Ticino shall provide the said Apostolic Administrator with suitable accommodation from the funds reserved for this purpose.

With the same funds, the Government of the Canton Ticino undertakes to constitute for the Apostolic Administration proper to the Canton Ticino and directly dependent on the Holy See an endowment, the annual income of which shall not be less than seventeen thousand francs (fr. 17,000.-).

This sum, for twelve thousand francs (fr. 12,000.-), shall constitute the allowance of the Apostolic Administration, and for five thousand francs (fr. 5,000.-) shall be disbursed for the expenses necessary for the institution of chairs of philosophy and theology, intended for the instruction of clerics of both rites, Roman and Ambrosian, regarding which rites no innovation shall be made.

The Government of the Canton of Ticino will continue to pay annually to the Pollegio Seminary the sum of six thousand francs (CHF 6000.-).

The Apostolic Administrator will have complete freedom over everything concerning the organization, instruction, and administration of the Seminary or Seminaries of the Canton. Consequently, it will be in his power to appoint and remove the directors, superiors, and professors of such institutions.

The Government of the Canton of Ticino does not intend that by this convention the rights or advantages deriving from religious foundations or from legacies and pious causes, which according to reason, equity or custom may belong to the State of Ticino, to moral bodies and to the citizens of the Canton as hitherto forming part of the dioceses of Milan and Como, shall be prejudiced in any way.

The ratifications of the present convention shall be exchanged in Bellinzona within three months. [1]

Published in BU 1884 , 171.

[1] Ratifications occurred on December 2, 1884.