ersion of such infidels, and all such may be
permitted to them, but the primary object must be the propagation of
the Faith, the extension of the Church, and the service of God.
10. Native kings and rulers hold their authority and jurisdiction by a
just title and have a right to the obedience of their lawful
subjects, nor should they be deposed or violently treated.
11. Injustice, cruelty, and every form of wickedness are produced by the
violation of this law.
12. Neither idolatry nor any kind of sin justifies Christians in
usurping the authority of native rulers or in seizing the lands and
goods of their subjects.
13. As long as such infidels have not opposed the propagation of the
Gospel and have not refused to receive the Faith preached to them,
no Christian tribunal or judge has a right to punish them for the
practice of idolatry or for the commission of any sins, no matter
how heinous.
14. The New World was discovered during the pontificate of Alexander
VI., hence that pontiff was obliged to designate some Christian
prince under whose protection the propagation of the Faith should be
carried on.
15. Since the Catholic sovereigns of Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella, had
protected and aided Columbus in making his discovery, and had,
moreover, expelled the Mahometans from their land, the Pope
perceived the special claims they had to receive this privilege, and
the great advantages to religion of confiding this mission to them.
16. The Pope, having authority to grant such a privilege, has power
likewise to annul, revoke, or suspend it for just cause; or he may
transfer it to some other ruler and forbid all others to interfere.
17. The jurisdiction over the Indies held by the sovereigns of Spain is
lawful.
18. The native rulers in the Indies are therefore obliged to submit to
the jurisdiction of the Spanish sovereigns.
19. Once the native rulers have voluntarily and freely accepted the
Faith and been baptised Christians, they become bound by another
title than before to acknowledge the Spanish sovereignty.
20. The law of God imposes on the Spanish sovereigns this duty of
selecting proper persons and sending them to preach Christianity to
the natives, and to neglect nothing that may ensure their
conversion.
21. They share this obligation w