Letter 2015: I appointed your Fraternity to preside for the present over the church of Naples, to the end that you might convert all you can to God by persuasive preaching. And, while you ought to be giving your whole mind to this work, you are in haste to return before bringing forth this fruit to the Lord, and request me to settle the affairs of this same ...

Book II, Letter 15 To Paul, Bishop [temporary administrator of Naples]. Gregory to Paul. I assigned Your Fraternity to preside for the time being over the church of Naples so that you might convert as many as possible to God through persuasive preaching. While you should be devoting your full attention to this work, you are in a hurry to return before bearing this fruit for the Lord, and you ask me to settle this church's affairs quickly. My mind has not been idle on this matter. But since I want to secure this church's welfare on a firm foundation, I need to consider the matter with extended deliberation, so as to arrange its affairs through the ordination of a worthy candidate whom Christ may reveal to us. In the meantime, let Your Fraternity focus on watching over the good of souls, so that my confidence in you may be strengthened by the results of your work. Everything you wrote concerning the deacon Peter has now been reported to us by the ex-consul Theodorus. Since I know that Peter is loyal to you and, by your testimony, works for the church's benefit, he should not fear anyone's opposition or hostility. Let him persevere in benefiting the Church and serving God all the more watchfully because others bear a grudge against him -- that way they will have no power to harm him. Your Fraternity should not be worried about his situation any further; no underhanded dealings will influence me.

Book II, Letter 15 To Paul, Bishop. Gregory to Paul, etc. I appointed your Fraternity to preside for the present over the church of Naples, to the end that you might convert all you can to God by persuasive preaching. And, while you ought to be giving your whole mind to this work, you are in haste to return before bringing forth this fruit to the Lord, and request me to settle the affairs of this same church speedily, my mind being meanwhile by no means unoccupied in this matter. But, being desirous of fortifying securely the well-being of this Church, I hold it needful to consider the matter with long continued deliberation, so as to be able to arrange its affairs by the ordination of a worthy whom Christ may reveal to us. Wherefore let your Fraternity meanwhile study to watch for the good of souls, so that the opinion I have of you may be strengthened by the effect of your working. All you have written concerning the deacon Peter has now been made known to us by the ex-consul Theodorus. And so, now that I know that he is constant to you, and, according to your testimony, studies the advantage of the Church, he ought to be afraid of no one's opposition or enmity, but persevere in benefiting the Church and serving God all the more watchfully as he feels that others have a grudge against him; that so they may have no power at all to injure him. Moreover, your Fraternity ought not hereafter to be suspected with regard to him; since no surreptitious proceedings will have effect on me. About this page Source. Translated by James Barmby. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 12. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360202015.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.