Letter 13015: I have received word that Jews in Naples have been holding public spectacles and games on our feast days — and...

Those who with sincere intention desire to lead outsiders to the Christian religion and to the right faith ought to apply themselves through gentle persuasion, not through harshness, lest adversity drive far off those whose mind a clearly rendered argument might have won over; for whoever act otherwise, and who under this pretext wish to suspend those people from the accustomed practice of their rite, are shown to attend to their own causes rather than God's. For the Jews dwelling at Naples have complained to us, asserting that certain persons are striving unreasonably to bar them from some of the solemnities of their festivals, so that it is not permitted them to observe the solemnities of their festivals, just as it has been permitted to them up to now, and to their forebears for long ages past, to keep and observe them. But if the truth of the matter is so, those persons appear to be expending effort upon a superfluous thing. For what advantage is there, when, even if they have been forbidden contrary to long-standing custom, it profits nothing toward their faith and conversion? Or why do we lay down rules for the Jews as to how they ought to keep their ceremonies, if through this we cannot win them over? It must therefore be brought about that, won over rather by reason and gentleness, they may wish to follow us, not to flee, so that, showing them from their own books the things we say, we may, with God assisting, be able to convert them to the bosom of mother Church. And so let Your Fraternity kindle them indeed by admonitions, insofar as you are able, with God assisting, toward conversion, and not permit them to be disturbed anew concerning their solemnities, but let them have free leave of observing and celebrating all their festivities and festival days, just as up to now both they themselves and their forebears, observing them through long ages past, have held them.