Letter 23

From: Pope Symmachus, Bishop of Rome (synodal letter) To: The assembled bishops Date: ~499 AD Context: The first synodal letter of Symmachus's pontificate — a foundational document establishing the rules for the election of the next pope and addressing the disorders that led to the Laurentian schism. Symmachus, bishop, to all the bishops assembled in holy synod. We address, as the first order of business, the question that has occasioned this assembly: the process by which the bishop of Rome is to be chosen, so that the disorders of the recent election are not repeated. The canons require that a bishop be chosen by the clergy and people of his city. The bishop of Rome is chosen from the Roman clergy, and the process of choice must reflect that canonical requirement. In practice, the senior clergy of the Roman church — the cardinal-priests and deacons who assist the bishop — play the central role in the election. We decree: when the see of Rome is vacant, the senior Roman clergy shall meet and choose a candidate. The choice shall be made by consensus where possible, by majority where consensus is not achievable. The candidate chosen shall be presented to the assembled clergy and people for their assent. He shall then be consecrated by the neighboring bishops without delay. No election conducted otherwise is valid. No person appointed by imperial or royal decree is the bishop of Rome; the bishop of Rome is elected. These principles are not negotiable. We trust that the clarity of this decree will prevent the kind of confusion and faction that accompanied the recent election. Symmachus, bishop, with the assembled synod.

liensiy Sereno Nomentano ^®), A^eodato Cerrensi, Stephano Nur- a. 499. , Dulcitio Sabinensi, Fortunato Anagnino, Pascliasio Yulturnensi, jtulo^^) Signino, Valerio Caleno^^), Felicissimo Caudino, Inno- io Forosemproniensi ^^), Colonico Foroclodiensi, Epiphanio Bene- ano, Johanne Spoletino ^^) , Constantio Yenafrano, Maximiano udno, Sallustio Amerino, Luciano ^^) Tarquiniensi, Molensi Cen- cellensi, BasHio^®) Matellicati, Florentio Plestano, Justo^') Ache- ino, Maximiano Subaugustano ^^), Fortunato Fulginati, Johanne mensi *^), Gaudentio Tadinati *®), Felice Nepesino, Sereno Nolano, apio Puteolano, Timotheo Abellinati, Marioti^®) Femati, Rosario entino, Urso Reatino^^), Stephano Neapolitano, Gaudentio Vul- Qsi, Projecticio Foronovano, Gaudentio Salernitano, Quinto Tea- d, Bellatore Ostiensi'-'^), Lampadio Urbissalviensi^^), Adeodato oiano, Urso^'*) Stabiano, Satumino Herdonitano'*); Gordiano, ^) Juslus AcherorUinus , qui in subBcriptionibus hoc loco ponitur, demum } inferins sequitur. Porro loco Cerrensi B' hic Lorensi^ qui tamen infra E* F* H 0 h* h* cc Cerrensis. Acerrae urbs Campaniae est. ') Hic episcopus et ceteri, pro quibus alii subscribunt, hoc tamen loco sim- er dcut alii recensentur. Post Sanctulum in subscriptionibus sequitur Inno- ts Forosensis hic omissus. '^) Infra hoc loco Faleniinus — Amiteminae pro Romano episcopo ecclesiae atium, i^ B* SpolUino ... Benefrano Maximiliano (infra cum 3^ Maximianus); alii ' Spoletanus . . . Constantinus . . . Maximus. i*) Ita B» et favent (J* (J« (J». Alii infra Lieinianus. '*) Deest infra in subscriptionibus, et ibidem Justus Acherontinus (B< Aceron- ) post Serenum Nomentanum positus. 0 c'^ Florentinus. ") B* Subaugustranus et infra Subaugestriae, c^^ Subaugestanus, Subaugusta urbs in confinio Sabinorum erat, ubi teste Holstenio condita fuit Helena Au- & mater Constantini. '*) B* Vioonensi. Vibo urbs Brutiorum episcopalis sub archiepiscopo Rhegino. '•) In subscriptionibus hic infleritur Mercurius e. e. SutHnae. ^ Hic quidem episcopus in subscriptis deest. Porro Femae urbs episcopalis rniae insulae sub archiepiscopo Cassilieusi erat. Sed potina hic aliquam 01 Africae similiter sonantem (ut Furnos, Formen al.) substituerim. -*) Pro hoc quidem infra Kosarius SurrentinuB subscribit, sed deest Reatini ficatio. ") Ita B» {F^). Infra H» urbis Albiensls, H» urbis Albinensis, editi urbis Al- s, Porro l/rbs Salvia oppidum Piceni erat. Mox B^ C/rro StavianOy infra tn Ursus Stabianae, ubi H^ (J E« similiter Stabianus, K" c^ c*o Astalinae, F^ . StaUne. Porro Stabiae urbs episcopalis Campaniae sub archiepiscopo Sur- ino erat. 41* a. 499. Maxentio, Petro, Justino, Urbico, Redempto, Paulino, Projectitio, Valente, Jovino, Petro, Bono, Sorano, Paschasio, AAterio, Johanne, Smaragdo, Valentino, Sebastiano, Marcello, Martiiio, Asello, Ep- phanio, Lutorio, Andrea, Agathone, Servodei, Sebcistiano, Opilione, Valentino, Petro, Anastasio, Romano, Genesio, Marcellino, Dionpo, Uomnino, Epiphanio, Agapito, Acontio, Abundantio, Paulino, Aga- pito, Petro, Adeodato, Timotheo, Dominico, Hilaro, Benedicto, Victo- rino, Redempto, Vincemalo, Severo, Johanne, Juliano, Paulino, Stephano, Laurentio, Crescentio, Eutyche, Septimino, Juliano, Cy- priano, Maximino, Epiphanio, Marco, Bonifacio, Vincemalo, Abun- dio, Venantio et Stephano presbyteris; adstantibus quoque Folgentio, Cypriano, Anastasio, Tarrensi, Citonato, Tertullo et Johanne dia- conibus, Fulgentius archidiaconus dixit: 2. „Beatitudo vestra directis antehac per provincias auctoriti- tibus frequentem ^^) Italiae sacerdotum synodum convocavit, quorum praesentia in vestris videtur oculis constituta. Nunc beatitudo vesiia, quae ad ecclesiasticas indemnitates vel ad pacem totius EcclesiM pertinent sive concordiam, dignetur tractabiliter ordinare". Nomiuantur autem revera praesentes LXXI (in K'* XVII), Bubscripti LXVI fa K'* LXIX) presbyteri. Nec facile extricari potest haec diverutas. Ut aut» aliis prospectam ejusdem praebeamus, his nominibus decem auctior estpiior recensio quam in subscriptionibus: Maxenlii, Smaragdi^ Valentiniy Epipluadi, l^ lorii, Domnini, Agapetiy Johannis, Maximini, Vincemali; mancior autem his qiUB* quc: Laurentii, Januarii, Martiani, Felicis, Dominici, Subscriptiones in K"c* autem abundant his novem nominibus: Laurentii, Januarii, Martiani, Felieis, Pn- lini, Dominici, Juliani, Abundantii, Paulini; deficiunt his undedm: Maxent&^ Sm- ragdi, Lutorii, Andreae, Agathonis, Valentini^ Agapiti, Johannis, Maxindm, Frirf- mali, Abundii. In recensendis nominibus B' secuti sumus, nisi quod ibi scriptam: Urbio (infra cum al. Urbicus), Crescentione» EutycCy Habundio, Cni fere in omiih bus concordant H^h'h', quum alu editi multum discrepant. — De epiBCOpowB numero jam in monito praevio n. 2 notavimus. TheodoricuB adjudicavit. Statimquo novus pontifex hanc congregavit qmote cui Laurentius ut presbyter subscripsit. Paulo post a Symmacho com ie9* Theodorici consensu ac voluntate Nucerinus episcopus confititotas est Q«i* autem anno 501 Symmachus a uounullis esset accusatus, tum demum TheodooA praecepto ox consensu Symmachi nova congrcgata est Bynodus, in qna epiiei>' patus eideui paj^ae confirmatus est.