Theology of Aristotle

POPE LEO X.

To his beloved son, Franciscus de Rosis of Ravenna.

Beloved son, greetings and apostolic benediction. Since many and indeed most excellent writers, who were hiding in darkness—not without the most grievous loss to the Latin tongue—have in our time emerged into the light from what might be called the deepest shadows, we cannot but congratulate scholars in the highest degree. For among the other cares that we undertake (in this care of human affairs divinely granted to us), we deem that this is not the least: that the Latin language should be rendered more enriched during our Pontificate, and that no small assistance should have been provided to those eager for the liberal arts for their greatest progress in the disciplines. Therefore, we deem that no expense should be spared so that ancient writers from all nations may be most diligently sought out and brought to us. For thus it happens that no one regrets their labor, and many of their own accord undertake this task—to penetrate into the most remote regions to rescue from darkness the monuments of the ancients, which were suppressed either by the envy of men or the injury of time, knowing that they will receive outstanding rewards for their efforts. As you have recently done, beloved son, you who traveled through so many barbarian and discordant peoples all the way to Syria with the greatest expense and not without danger to your life, and for no other cause than to rescue from neglect, or rather from destruction, some writings of the most excellent philosophers. Among these, you found a certain work which is inscribed Theology, or Mystical Philosophy, of Aristotle (for so the title of the book indicated)—a work since it is filled with excellent doctrine—written in Arabic characters and translated from Greek, which, once made Latin, you offered to us as a very pleasing gift, and that [to be printed] in forms for common use.