Letter 9014

**From:** Gregory I, Bishop of Rome **To:** Felix, Subdeacon in Sicily **Date:** ~599 AD **Context:** Administrative instruction to the regional representative in Sicily. There are several matters in Sicily that require your attention, and I trust you to handle them with your usual diligence. The affairs of the Church's properties and the welfare of those under our care in that island must not be neglected. Any outstanding disputes should be resolved promptly, and if you encounter situations that exceed your authority to resolve, refer them to me immediately rather than letting them fester.

AD FELICEM IN S$ICILIA. ' Se ad Jonnnem episcopum 8cripsisse, ut actores Keele- $i 8ur deputct, qui cum Felice ips0 8ine mora ju- dicium subeant. ; Gregorius Felici in Sicilia. Susceptis magnitudinis vestre epistolis, contrista- ti $umus quod ab actoribus Ecclesie Syracusanze quasdam possessiones, quas vos tenuisse dicitis, 0ccu- palas irrationabiliter indicasiis. Sed credimus quia hoc ad fratris et coepiscopi nostri Joannis notitiam non pervenit. Nam absolute poterat, cognita veritate, 8i quid illicite ſfactum est, emendari. Et ideo quia legali provisione decretum est ®* tam imminentis quam principalis rei causam in uno eodemque judi- cio cognosci, nec nos contra inauditam partem ali- quid possumus definire , przdicto fratri nostro scri- psimus ut actores Ecclesiz sua deputare debeat, qui vobiscum $sine mora electorum possint s1bire judi- cium ; ne avtl vos res veslras sine cognitione, sicut querelam ſacitis, amittere, aut pars allera videatur prejudicium sustinere. Gloria ergo vestra nullas in eligendos Þ judices diſficuliates interserat, vel dif- ſerat ad causam accedere. Nam omnino de supradicti ſratris et coepiscopi nostri moribus certj sumus quia facere quidquid rationis oro exezerit non recuset ©.