The New See in Upper Canada, the Diocese of Toronto

GREGORY XVI, POPE

FOR A PERPETUAL RECORD OF THE MATTER.

The condition of dioceses throughout the entire world holds no small place among the many weighty responsibilities of our Apostolate, in as much as it belongs to our supreme power and judgment to oversee them and to establish or change their boundaries, according to time and need, as we discern will serve the needs of the faithful. Our venerable brother Rémi Gaulin, bishop of Kingston in Upper Canada, has explained to us the very weighty reasons why the good of religion and the increase of the Catholic faith in the remote western region of the same Upper Canada manifestly require that a western province be separated from the eastern province and the diocese of Kingston and erected into its own particular episcopacy or diocese. We entrusted this very important matter to the congregation of our brothers, the cardinals of the Holy Roman Church who are responsible for the task of Propagating the Faith. And, having carefully considered all these matters, and, above all on account of the enormous size of the whole of Upper Canada, we have determined that it is no longer serves the good of the Church that the governance of so vast a region remain under the authority of just one bishop. So, graciously considering the request of that same bishop, we have decided that the creation of this new episcopacy would be very advantageous. Therefore, on our own initiative, with all things considered, and by the fullness of our apostolic power, we permanently separate the aforementioned remote western province of Upper Canada from the diocese of Kingston. And, by force of this letter, we also erect that region into its own episcopacy and diocese. In addition, we determine that the episcopal see from which is to be taken the future name of this diocese is to be determined by that same bishop whom we have charged with this matter by a similar apostolic letter given him on the same day. We desire and order that those viewing this letter know it has been set forth as, and is, well-founded, valid, and effective, and that they are to execute it completely and integrally, carefully fulfilling it in accord with the aforesaid. Also concerning the aforesaid, anything decided and determined by judges, both ordinary and delegate, or even by those hearing cases in the Apostolic Palace, is null and void, whether done knowingly or in ignorance, unless in accordance with the above. This applies also to all statutes and customs in any way contrary, including those of the said church of Kingston, even if they were given under oath, apostolically confirmed, or otherwise supported. Given at Saint Peter's in Rome, under the Ring of the Fisherman, on December 17, 1841, in the eleventh year of our pontificate.