Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 210

Gregory to the clergy, nobles, order, and people residing at Naples. Although the sincere devotion of spiritual children toward mother Church needs no exhortation, nevertheless, lest it should think itself neglected, it ought to be aroused by an epistolary address. On which account I approach your love with the admonition of fatherly charity, that with profuse tears we may unanimously render thanks to our Redeemer, who did not suffer you to walk by devious ways under so perverse a teacher, but made public the crimes of an unworthy shepherd.

For Demetrius, who had earlier deserved to be called bishop, was found to be so involved in such and so great transactions, that if he had received judgement without mercy according to the quality of his crimes, he would beyond doubt have had to be punished with a most cruel death by the laws divine and human. But because he was reserved for penance, and deprived of the honour of the priesthood, we do not suffer the Church of God to remain long vacant without a teacher, since it is also established by the canonical rules that, upon a shepherd being deceased or removed, the Church ought not to be deprived of a priest for long. And therefore I have deemed it necessary to admonish your charity by these present writings, that in the electing of a pontiff neither delay nor discord—which is wont to beget scandals—may arise.

But seek out for yourselves with all solicitude such a person, in whom the united concord of all may be able to rejoice, and who may in no way be rejected by the sacred canons; so that the office which a most abominable man had polluted by his evil administration, whoever he shall be that is ordained with the grace of Christ, may—He also lending His favour—be able to fulfil with worthy administration. (See below, letters 9 and 10, and Book X, letter 62.)