Letter 4124

From: Gregory the Great, Pope, in Rome To: Castorius, deacon [in the Picene region] Date: ~594 AD Context: Gregory instructs Castorius to investigate the lives of local bishops and priests; if he finds wrongdoing, he is to report it. Gregory to Castorius, deacon. I am sending you to investigate the lives and conduct of the bishops and other clergy in the Picene region [the Marche coast of Italy]. This is a significant responsibility and I want to be clear about what it involves. Your role is that of an investigator and reporter, not a judge. You are to observe, inquire, and note what you find. You are not authorized to make punitive decisions or to remove anyone from office. You bring the results of your investigation to me, and I will then act on them as seems right. In conducting your investigation: be thorough but fair. Ask the right questions. Listen to multiple sources — not just the powerful and well-connected but also the ordinary people who experience the ministry of these clergy directly. And be honest in what you report, even if the truth is uncomfortable. The church's wellbeing depends on the quality of its clergy. This kind of investigation is one of the ways we maintain that quality. Gregory

AD CASTURIUM - DIACONUM. Pisaurensis episcopi aliorumve sacerdotum vitam per- scruletur; 8i quid g8inislrum invenerit, renuntitet. Tutorem tueatur, ut quE@ 5ibi pro pauperibus injuncta 8unt valeat exsequi. Gregorius ® Castorio diacono. Quzdam ad nos de Þ Pisaurensi episcopo pervene- runt, que indiscussa nullo modo sunt JS re'in- quenda. Propterea experientie tuz precipimus ut de vita et actibus ipsius subtili indagatione studeat per- scrutari. Et $i quid ſortasse repererit quod sacerdotii, quod absit, integritatem valeat maculare, ad nos eum cum secriptis tuis de his que in veritate cognoveris omnimodo sub competenti cautela transmitte, ut in- ſormati, Deo revelante, 8ublilius de veritate, quid fieri debeat pertractemus. Non solum autem de eo, sed et de aliorum quoque $sacerdotum te vita convenit es-e sollicitum. Et si de quolibet sinistrum quidpiam - Sentire potneris, nobis renuntiare ſestina, ut actuum prav.itas Salubriter cum Dei solatio debeat emen- dari. ; Pervenit quoque ad nos Adeodatum quemdam ci- vem Pisaurensern, filio atque vernaculo 8uo haredi- bus institutis, Thomam deputasse tutorem, hanc con- . ditionem adjiciens, ut $i forte, heredes ip+-ius in pupillari ztale de hac vita transirent, omnis ejus substantia per manus ante dicti tutoris debuisset pauperibus erogari. © Sed obitis qui hzredes ſuerunt inslituti, ne deſuncti possit voluntas impleri, supra- SCtiptus tutor a quibusdam dicitur impediri. Propter- . ea, $i $icut edocti sumus ita esse in veritate com- pereris, curz alque $0llicitudinis tuz sit ante dictum tutorem . Fationabiliter tneri, atque deſendere, ut quzeque $ibi injuncta sunt valeat effectui mancipare. Sed quoniam dicitur eumdem tutorem velle aliquid . ita legalur, $ensus deficit : ed ab iis qui haredes ſre- run! ims0uti, ne deſuncii poss voluntas impleri s1pra- scriptus tutor a quibusdam (quo | quidem omittiiur in Editis, al in omnibus Mss. legitury dicitur imp-dirt ; Superfluit, ab iis. Et sane teslatoris volunt1s :mpleri non poterat, q andin h;eredes ab eo inslitull vive- rent; ergo jam obierant. " COn05 regionarios, pauperes, vidurr, pupilli, senes pro - prize regionis alebantur, Eraut publicz quodammodo SANCTI GREGORI! MACGNI jusquam po«8int impedimento compleri. Valerianum A bili prece omnes deposcimus ut omnipoteas Deus vero monachum, quem emendatum in monasterio beati Jo:nnis in Classe po-ito tradidisti, in eodem eum monasterio sine dubio volumus permanere. Preterea ne quam necessilatem in expensis Lua ex- perientia patiatur, de reditibus 8anclz Romanz Ecclesie, qui illie te providente agg'egoti sunt, omnes expensas tuas le ſacere volumus. Et si quid superſuerit, nobis cum veneris defer.