Gregory to Marinianus, bishop of Ravenna. From the report of your Fraternity's letter, we have learned that the sons of the Church of Cornelii, with assiduous supplication, are asking of you a priest to be consecrated for them in the place of their bishop who once lapsed; and that you are in doubt as to what ought to be done in this matter, and await our clear instruction. Since therefore no reason permits one who has criminally withdrawn to be recalled to the place from which he lapsed, and since the statutes of the sacred canons do not permit a church to be vacant of a pontiff beyond three months—lest, the shepherd having fallen, the ancient enemy, which God forbid, by lying in wait tear the Lord's flock—your Fraternity
ought to consent to their petition, and to ordain a bishop in the place of the one who lapsed. For since, though they were not petitioning, you ought even before this to have admonished them to this by your exhortations, now that they are asking, it behooves you to defer them by no excuse, because the Church of God, long widowed, ought not to remain without its own bishop.