教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 465 章

Gregory to the clergy and people dwelling at Rimini. Pastoral care constrains us to hasten with solicitous consideration to Churches left destitute of the governance of a priest. And therefore, since your Church has long been left destitute of its own priest's pastoral governance on account of the sickness which, as you know, hinders his body, moved by your prayers we did not cease to admonish that same bishop, that, if he should feel himself improved from that same affliction, he ought to return to the ministry of the priesthood he had undertaken. He, once and again admonished by us, but with the same affliction pressing upon him, is now known to have signified to us, by a supplication offered in writing, that he can in no way rise, the affliction hindering, to the governance of that same Church or to the office he had undertaken.

Compelled by the despair of that person, we have judged it necessary to think about the ordination of your Church. We exhort therefore that, all of you with one and the same consent, tumult being removed, you elect, with the Lord's aid, such a priest to be set over you, as shall in no way be rejected by the venerable canons, and may be found worthy of so great a ministry. And when he shall have been demanded, with the solemnity of a decree strengthened by the subscriptions of all, and with the page of the visitor accompanying, let him come to us to be ordained, so that your Church may, with the Lord disposing, be able to have its own priest.

But we wish that you conduct him whom your unanimity shall have elected, without any delay, to our brother and fellow-bishop Marinianus at Ravenna, so that, having been subtly examined and inspected by him, he may be strengthened also by his testimony when he comes to us.