Innocent II (etc.) wishes eternal salvation to his beloved son Raymund, master of the pilgrims' house in the holy city of Jerusalem, and to his brothers, both present and future. The religion of the Christian faith piously believes and truly professes that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, although rich in all things, became poor for our sake. Therefore, he also promises those who emulate him the reward of corresponding comfort. 'Blessed,' he says, 'are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of heaven.' And this same father of orphans and refuge of the poor speaks in the Gospel, in which he exhorts us to hospitality and good works: 'Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' He also assured us, in order to show the extraordinary goodness of such humanity, that he himself would pay the price for a cup of cold water. And we, to whom it is due by virtue of our office to care with fatherly love for those near and far, regard your sacrifice with due benevolence and, as you request, place the hospital of the holy city of Jerusalem under the protection of St. Peter and secure the persons and property belonging to it by the privilege of the Apostolic See. We decree that all possessions, all goods which this place currently possesses according to secular and canon law, or which may in the future be acquired by donation of popes, generosity of kings and princes, sacrifices of the faithful, or in any other lawful way, God willing, shall be secure and remain undiminished for all eternity.

The following provision stipulates that those who support the hospital will receive the remission of one-seventh of their sins. In the event of an interdict, hospitals have the right to a church burial. They may open interdicted churches once a year, hold services there, and collect donations.

Innocent II (etc.) wishes the venerable brothers, the archbishops, bishops, abbots, and all the heads of the churches to whom this document has been delivered, good health... (etc.). Those who, spurred on by pious devotion and amidst manifold dangers by land and sea, visit the Holy City of Jerusalem and the Lord's Tomb, continually recognize how pleasing to God and worthy of veneration to humankind, what a pleasant and useful lodging the Pilgrim House of Jerusalem is to pilgrims and the poor. For there the needy and the poor are cared for, the sick are shown the services of humanity in manifold ways, and those weary from various hardships and dangers are strengthened to the best of one's ability. There, the servants whom the brothers of the house have specifically assigned for this purpose and, when expediency requires, maintain at their own expense, piously and diligently ensure that those who travel to the holy places, which are entrusted to them by the body of Christ, are well cared for. Those who have been consecrated to the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ can be assured of their care. Since the brothers lack the means for such an enormous undertaking, we exhort your charitable love through this apostolic letter in the Lord to compensate for their lack from your abundance and to urge the people entrusted to your care, with frequent exhortations, to accept their brotherhood for the remission of their sins and to organize collections to support the pilgrims, knowing full well that we have placed the hospital, with all that belongs to it, under the protection of Saint Peter and secured it by our written document...

The privileges in case of interdict follow, as in the text of the document of the same Pope to the Master of the Order Raymund of 7.2.1137.

Anastasius, Bishop and Servant of the Lord, to his beloved son Raymond, Rector of the Hospital in Jerusalem, and to his brothers, present and future, who forever receive spiritual life, health, and the papal blessing. The Christian Church firmly believes and sincerely professes that Jesus Christ, our Lord, though rich in all things, became poor for our sake. Therefore, he promises those who follow him the reward of consolation: “Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Like the Father of the Orphans and the Savior of the Poor, who exhorts us to hospitality and generosity, the Gospel says: “Whatever you did for one of the brothers and sisters of mine last over, you did for me.” And to further demonstrate the perfection of this virtue, he assures us that he will even reward us for a cup of cold water. We, however, whose duty it is to extend fatherly care to people near and far, accept you in your devotion and grant you our favour in whatever you ask of us. And following the example of our predecessors—Innocent, Celestine, Lucius, Eugenius, and all the Roman Popes of blessed memory—we accept the protection of Saint Peter of the Hospital and refuge in the holy city of Jerusalem, and we protect all property with the privileges of the Holy See.

We decree that all goods and possessions acquired by the Hospital to support the needs of pilgrims and the poor in the parishes of the churches of Jerusalem or other churches, or acquired for the careful care of the poor, or donated by anyone, as well as future gifts from kings and princes granted by the grace of God, or goods acquired in any other way; whatever the venerable brothers of the See of Jerusalem have lawfully donated to the priests of the Church for you or your successors, as well as for the brothers who care for pilgrims, We decree that all this (property) be peacefully and completely assigned to the Order.

Should a plot of land have been granted to the Holy House for the glory of God, you may erect buildings there, build churches, and establish cemeteries according to the needs of the people living there, until nearby abbeys can assume this responsibility. Once the lands granted to you have been lawfully distributed, you may found chapels and establish cemeteries there to meet the needs of pilgrims and the brothers who dine at your table. We further decree that the successors of your brotherhood, without prejudice to the Masters, shall remain under Our protection and that of Saint Peter, and wherever they travel on earth, they shall bring peace.

We have also decreed that anyone who has joined your brotherhood, in the event that the church to which he belongs is forbidden to conduct religious services, and in the event of his death, may not be denied a church burial until he has been excommunicated by name.

If one of the brothers you send to receive the aforementioned brotherhood or council arrives in a town or village where religious services are forbidden and that place does not deserve the glory of Almighty God, the church must be opened once a year after the brothers' safe arrival. If the excommunicated turn away, the service must be held.

And until all your wealth has been spent on supporting pilgrims and the poor, or on other purposes, We decree that no layperson or clergyman should even consider extorting church tithes or reaping the fruits of your labour. We decree that even bishops will not be permitted to impose interdicts, suspensions, or excommunications against the churches entrusted to you. However, should a general interdict be imposed on these places, services may be held discreetly, behind closed doors and without the ringing of bells, until the church in question is explicitly excommunicated.

So that you may not lack the fullness of salvation and care for your souls, and so that the sacraments of the Church and divine services may be easily organized for you and the poor of Christ, We decree that you may receive clergy and priests , regardless of their origin, provided you can prove their purity and spiritual rank and obtain further information about them through letters and corroborating testimonies. You may keep them both in your principal institutions and in other necessary establishments, as long as they are not bound to any districts or dioceses and do not intend to harm the ministry of the Order.

And should the bishop refuse to assign you a priest, you nevertheless have the right to accept and retain him, irrespective of the authority of the Holy Roman Church. These ministers may not be subject to anyone outside your order, except the Pope.

We are also obliged to endow you with the authority to admit free lay people into your Society for the Poor without objection.

We forbid you to return to the world your brothers who have joined your society, been received into it, taken vows, and donned the religious habit. It would be wrong for someone, after taking vows, finding the Cross of the Most High, and donning the religious habit, to abandon it.

And no one should move into a large or small monastery without the prior consent of the brothers or the abbot of that monastery. If the brothers do not wish to accept him, the brother should not move, even if he has received permission to do so. Neither a layman nor a clergyman should grant the authority to accept or retain brothers.

The consecration of altars or basilicas (a basilica is a medieval Christian church, usually cruciform – translator's note), the ordination of priests who have been transferred to the holy state, and other ecclesiastical sacraments are the responsibility of the bishop of the diocese. Provided, of course, that he is Catholic, shares the views of the Apostolic See, and is well-disposed toward it, he must grant you the sacraments described without objection. Otherwise, you are free, at your own discretion, to request the fulfilment of your request from another Catholic bishop who is irrefutably supported by our authority.

And in the event of the death of the leader and director, no one shall assume this office through deceit, trickery, or violence, but only someone chosen by the brothers according to God's will.

Furthermore, we guarantee you the offices and property here and overseas, in Asia and Europe, which the hospital lawfully possesses or can lawfully acquire, so that progress may be made in the hospital's operations through your efforts. No one shall be so foolish as to disrupt the aforementioned work, seize hospital property, or retain stolen property from the hospitals in order to weaken or disrupt them by force. And everything given for you and in your support shall be preserved intact and secure, and everything shall continue to be given to you in the future for any purpose whatsoever, with due respect to the authority of the Apostolic See and the ecclesiastical justice of the Bishop of the diocese.

And whoever in the future, whether clergy or laity, knows this law of ours and, after the third admonition, recklessly attempts to violate it, shall, until he has fully made amends, be removed from his power and office and deprived of all self-respect. He shall know that he is subject to divine justice for the crime committed, and he shall be excommunicated from the holy body and blood of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ and ultimately subject to personal vengeance. But may the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be granted to all who keep this law when they reap the fruits of their good deeds, and may they be granted eternal peace at the heavenly judgment. Amen, amen, amen.

Given in the Lateran by Roland, Priest of the Holy Roman Church, to the Chancellor, on October 21, in the third proclamation, in the year 1154 after the Resurrection of our Lord, in the second year of the pontificate of Pope
Anastasius IV.