To denounce racism and anti-Semitism, Pius XI sought out the American Jesuit journalist John LaFarge and summoned him to Castel Gandolfo on 25 June 1938. The pope told the Jesuit that he planned to write an encyclical denouncing racism, and asked LaFarge to help write it, while swearing him to strict silence. LaFarge took up this task in secret in Paris, but the Jesuit Superior-General Wlodimir Ledochowski promised the pope and LaFarge that he would facilitate the encyclical's production. This proved to be a hindrance, since Ledochowski was privately an anti-Semite and conspired to block Lafarge's efforts whenever and wherever possible. In late September 1938, the Jesuit had finished his work and returned to Rome, where Ledochowski welcomed him and promised to deliver the work to the pope immediately. LaFarge was directed to return to the United States, while Ledochowski concealed the draft from the pope, who remained wholly unaware of what had transpired.