«CUM SICUT MAIESTAS». - Opening words of the bull of Alexander VI (26 March 1500), in which is contained the first organization of the Church for the newly discovered lands in India.
With this bull, the Pope, considering the merits of the kings of Portugal in spreading the Christian name, and basing himself on the decision of King Manuel to send secular and regular clergy to the newly discovered lands in India, grants to the same king the faculty to subject the territory, from the Cape of Good Hope up to and including India, to an apostolic commissioner, to be appointed by the king of Portugal, who, invested with episcopal authority, must reside in a colonial city. King Manuel only after 14 years appointed the first commissioner of Laodicea (1514–17), followed by others until in 1534 the diocese of Goa was erected.