Venerable Brother, — We received your Christmas congratulations with very great affection, but we should have received it with still greater pleasure had you come out of your slightly courtier-like fashion, and mentioned the failings you have noticed in us during this year, and reminded us, and taught us too how we might, next year, remedy them, make amends for them, and serve the Divine Majesty better than we have so far. We congratulate you on being at peace with the King's ministers. As they have a good head,* [ft-note: The Viceroy, Don Ferdinand de Castro.] with whom we are very satisfied, it gives us grounds to hope that you will not find it difficult to maintain this harmony.
　We envy you, if we may use such an expression in this matter, the sincere desire which increases in you every day, to serve the souls committed to your charge. The thought of that charge is a constant torture to us and alarms us more and more, and if our Blessed God, Who knows of what we are made and how great is our weakness, did not make us sometimes think of His goodness, and what we ought to hope for from His great mercy, we should certainly lose heart.
　May your Lordship continue well, and be mindful of me in your prayers and sacrifices.
　Given in our Apostolic Palace, Holy Innocents’ Day, 1603.   Pope Clement VIII’s Christmas Missive of 1603