Translation from original Latin text

John Paul

Bishop

Servant of the servants of God

For everlasting memory

We who according to the will of God Himself occupy the lofty chair of the Prince of the Apostles are indeed very solicitous about one thing: that the life and words of the Catholic Church may be governed and promoted as efficiently as possible everywhere for the greater advantage and spiritual benefit of the faithful. Without doubt, among our daily considerations of singular importance and weight must be numbered those which concern the Eastern Churches, since they are deservedly so very dear to us as much as their antiquity as for the beauty of their ancient traditions and the examples of Christian holiness.

Our venerable brother, His Eminence Archille Cardinal Silvestrini prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, with the complete consent of the His Beatitude Ignace Antoine Hayek II, Patriarch of Antioch of the Syriacs, together with the Synod of Bishops of the same Patriarchate and the agreement of the Presidents of the Episcopal Conferences both in the United States of America and in the Nation of Canada and of the competent Papal Representatives, has earnestly requested that the community of the faithful of the Antiochian Rite of the Syriacs who live in each of the above mentioned areas be elevated to the grade and dignity of an Eparchy.

Wherefore, accordingly, having very carefully weighed everything, agreeing with these proposed requests, and believing that this entire resolution and plan will yield the greatest eternal good for the people of those places, by our Apostolic Authority we decree and we establish that henceforth there is to be the Eparchy for the faithful of the Church of Antioch of the Syrians in the United States of America and in Canada, to be called by this title: "Our Lady of Deliverance of Newark of the Syriacs," with rights and obligations equally granted which belong to this dignity and condition. Moreover, let these things and the like simply be observed according to the individual precepts of the Eastern code.

Finally, as we bestow this honor on that beloved community, we likewise desire to show openly our love for it, sure that afterwards all the ministers and the faithful of this new Eparchy will assume indeed from this fact more ardent incentives of spiritual life.

Given at Rome, at Saint Peter's, on the sixth day of the month of November, in the year of the Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-five, the eighteenth of our Pontificate,