Letter 2022: It both affords us joy for your carefulness, and makes your Fraternity safe in your own ordination, if the order of ancient custom is maintained. Since, then, we have learned from the letters which you have sent to us through the presbyter Maximianus and the deacon Andreas that the consent of all of you and the will of the most serene Prince hav...
Book II, Letter 22
To all the Bishops of Illyricum [the Roman province in the western Balkans].
Gregory to all the bishops.
It both gives us joy for your careful judgment and confirms the validity of your own ordination that the ancient order of custom has been maintained. We have learned from the letters you sent through the priest Maximianus and the deacon Andreas that the unanimous consent of all of you, together with the will of the most serene Emperor [Mauricius], has come together in the person of our brother and fellow bishop John. We rejoice greatly that, under God's guidance, the judgment of all has approved as worthy the man advanced to the episcopal office.
In accordance with your request, we therefore confirm our brother Bishop John in the priestly office to which he has been appointed, by the authority of our assent. We declare our ratification of his consecration by sending him the pallium [the vestment symbolizing his authority]. And since, following custom, we have entrusted him with authority as our vicar [representative of the papacy], we must urge Your Fraternity to obey him without hesitation in all matters pertaining to church order and proper discipline, as well as other matters not prohibited by canon law [church rules]. The obedience you show will prove the soundness of your judgment in electing him.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.
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