688:1
Gregorius a Alexandro prætori Siciliae. Qui de filii charitate non dubitat, commendare ei quos diligit, non recusat. Et ideo quia 1097 patrimonium Ecclesiae Ravennatis, quod in Sicilia constitutum est, ita dicitur diminutum ac si nullus esset qui utilitates ipsius illic agere potuisset, necesse fuit reverendissimum fratrem et coepiscopum nostrum Marinianum de ordinando patrimonio ipso ne antplius b decresceret cogitare. c Ad cujus quia gubcrnationem Joannem diaconum suum transmisit, paterno salutantes affectu, petimus ut ei, tanquam a nobis misso, sicut de vobis confidimus, charitatem in oMinibus impendatis.
Gregory to Alexander, praetor of Sicily. He who does not doubt the charity of a son, does not refuse to commend to him those whom he loves. And therefore, since the patrimony of the Church of Ravenna, which is situated in Sicily, is said to be so diminished as if there were no one who could there transact its affairs, it was necessary for our most reverend brother and fellow-bishop Marinianus to think about the ordering of that patrimony, lest it should decrease further. And since, for its governance, he has sent his deacon John, greeting you with fatherly affection, we ask that to him, as to one sent by us, you may, as we trust of you, extend your charity in all things.
額我略致西西里執政官亞歷山大。凡不疑心兒子愛德的人，便不推辭將他所愛的人薦於他。因此，既然拉溫納教會坐落於西西里的產業據說已大為減損，彷彿無人能在那裡料理其事務，我們至可敬的弟兄兼同主教瑪利尼安便不得不思量整頓那產業，免得它進一步衰減。既然他為治理該產業，差派了他的執事若望前來，我們便懷父愛之情向你致意，求你將此人視為我們所差派的，如我們對你所信賴的，在凡事上向他施行愛德。