It was written on March 5, 1245, was an exposition of the Christian faith, and urged Mongols to accept baptism.
[1] It was intended to be carried by the Franciscan friar and papal envoy Laurentius of Portugal.
[3] Ecclesiastical letters are generally named by modern scholars, according to their incipit, or beginning.
The letter starts, "...regi et populo Tartarorum viam agnoscere veritatis.
Dei patris inmensa benignitas humani generis casum, quod primi hominis culpa corruerat, ineffabili respiciens pietate..." It has been referred to by different names, such as "Dei patris inmensa", "Dei patris immensa", and "Verbum agnoscere" from different scholars choosing different parts of the incipit to refer to it.