Letter 6010

From: Gregory the Great, Pope, in Rome To: Bonifatius, bishop Date: ~596 AD Context: Gregory unites the church of Carina with the church of Reggio. Gregory to Bonifatius, bishop. The church of Carina, which has been unable to sustain itself as an independent diocese, is to be united with the church of Reggio. You, as the bishop of Reggio, will exercise episcopal authority over the united diocese. The practical details of the union — property, clergy, pastoral relationships — are to be worked out carefully and with as little disruption to the people of Carina as possible. They are losing their independent diocesan status, which is a loss; but they are gaining the stability of proper episcopal oversight, which is a gain. Treat them with the pastoral care they deserve in this transition. Gregory

AD BONIFACIUM EPISCOPUM. Regiensi Ecclesie unit Carinensem. Gregorius Bonifacio episcopo ® Regitano. Postquam Eecclesiz * Carinensi, deſuncto ejus an- listite, alium ordinari © nec loci desertio, JYY nec Sinit imminatio personarum, majori cura constringi- mur 4 ne consistentes ibidem, $i pastoris ſuerint mo- deramine deslituti, per invia fidei hostis callidi rapian- tur insidiis. Hoe ergo nosiro 8edit cordi consilium, ® ue eam sollicitudini debere committi, quod facere per przsentia scripla perspeximus. Cujus ut curam B gubernationemque $tudiosius habere gerereque festi- nes, luz eam Ecclesie aggregari unirique censemus, quatenus utrarumque Ecclesjiarum $acerdos recte, | Christo adjutore, possis exislere, et quzque tibi de ejus patrimonio, vel cleri ordinatione vigilanti ac ca- nonica visa ſuerint cura disponere, quippe ut sacerdos proprius liberam habebis ex presenti nostra permis- sione licentiam. Quapropter, ſrater charissime, do- minicorum reminiscens $alubriter mandatorum, ita in commisse plebis regimine, lucrandisque animabus invigila, ut, ante tribunal zterni judicis constitutus, ſructum bon operationis, qui: ad mercedem tuam pertineat, Redemaptori nostro, in quo Ilztari possit, exhibeas.