In October, 1701, the Council of the Indies acted to implement the bishop’s proposal. The Council believed that the bishop had too many responsibilities in Cuba to be burdened with the troublesome Florida visitation. Its members also agreed that many “pernicious spiritual consequences” had resulted from the bishop’s neglect of Florida, but with an auxiliary bishop resident in Saint Augustine, these old abuses would be swept away. Including the provinces of Apalache, Carlos, and Catalina (Guale), Florida encompassed an area large enough to warrant creation of an auxiliary bishopric. The auxiliary could supervise mission work, advise the Spaniards and Indians on religious matters, and make confirmations. The Council also suggested six assistants for the new bishop. [Note 11: Consejo 10/12/1701] Philip V acted quickly on the recommendation, and on December 1, 1701, ordered his ambassador in Rome to seek papal sanction for the new auxiliary bishopric. [Note 12: Despacho del rey al Duque de Uzeda (Embajador de Espana en Roma) 12/1/1701] Within six months the pope gave his approval, making the new auxiliary suffragan to the bishop of Cuba, who received the power to appoint the new secular clergyman. [Note 13: Consejo 7/23/1704] Finding a suitable candidate for the new post was only one of the difficulties encountered in creating the auxiliary bishopric. Bishop Diego Evelino de Compostela first chose his assistant, Father Andres de Olmos, who refused the office. Eighty years old and infirm, he stated that he was incapable of making the trip to Florida. The bishop then delayed almost a full year before naming Dionisio Resino, eldest priest in Cuba, whose appointment was finally confirmed by the king on September 18, 1704. This immediately created a new problem over who would pay for the papal bulls creating the new office and for the maintenance of the auxiliary bishop. Evelino de Compostela adamantly refused to pay either. Meanwhile, the bishop died. His successor, Geronimo de Valdes, proved more cooperative and willingly consented to pay for the bulls and to grant Resino an income from Cuban tithes. [Note 15: 1724] (Tepaske GSF)