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POPE CLEMENT VIII

Since the text of the common edition vulgatæ editionis The "Vulgate," the standard Latin translation of the Bible used by the Catholic Church. of the Holy Bible has been restored with the greatest labor and vigilance, and most accurately purged of errors, and now, by the Lord's blessing, is issued from our Vatican Printing House Typographia Vaticana The official press established by the Papacy to ensure the accurate production of Church texts.; We, desiring to provide appropriately so that in the future this same text may be preserved uncorrupted as is fitting, do by our Apostolic authority and by the tenor of these presents strictly forbid anyone, within ten years from the date of this document, from printing it anywhere other than in our Vatican Printing House, whether on this side or the other side of the mountains original: "tam citra, quam ultra montes" — a common phrase referring to Italy and the rest of Europe, divided by the Alps..

However, once the aforementioned ten-year period has passed, we command that this precaution be taken: that no one presume to commit this edition of the Holy Scriptures to the press unless they have first obtained a copy printed at the Vatican Printing House. The form of that copy must be inviolably observed, with not even the smallest part original: "ne minima quidem particula" of the text changed, added, or taken away, unless something occurs that is clearly attributable to a printer’s oversight.

If any printer in any kingdom, city, province, or place—whether subject to the temporal rule of our Holy Roman Church S. R. E. Abbreviation for Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae. or not—should presume to print, sell, offer for sale, or otherwise publish or circulate this same edition of the Holy Scriptures within the aforesaid ten years in any way, or after ten years in any way other than according to such a copy as described above; or if any bookseller should presume to sell or circulate copies of this edition printed by himself or others after the date of this document that differ in any way from the aforementioned restored and correct text, or were printed by someone other than the Vatican printer within the ten-year period: he shall, beyond the loss of all books and other temporal penalties to be inflicted at our discretion, incur by that very act the sentence of major excommunication excommunicatio. From this, he cannot be absolved by anyone except the Roman Pontiff, unless he is at the point of death.

We therefore command all and singular Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, and other prelates of churches and places, including those of religious orders, to ensure and see to it that these present letters are inviolably observed by everyone in their respective churches and jurisdictions forever. They are to restrain any who oppose this by means of ecclesiastical censures and other appropriate remedies of law and fact, setting aside any appeal, and even calling upon the aid of the secular arm The use of civil or government authorities to enforce the decree. for this purpose if necessary.

This is to be done notwithstanding any Apostolic constitutions and ordinances, or general or special decrees issued in General, Provincial, or Synodal Councils, or any statutes and customs of churches, orders, congregations, colleges, and universities—even those confirmed by oath, Apostolic confirmation, or any other strength—or any privileges, indults, or Apostolic letters granted to the contrary: all of which we most broadly revoke for this purpose, and decree to be revoked. Furthermore, we desire that the same credit be given everywhere, both in court and outside of it, to copies of these presents even when printed in the volumes themselves, as would be given to these presents if they were exhibited or shown in their original form.

Given at Rome, at Saint Peter’s, under the Ring of the Fisherman Annulo Piscatoris The official signet ring used by the Pope to seal documents., on the 9th day of November, 1592, in the first year of our Pontificate.

M. Vestrius Barbianus.