Pope Gregory the Great → Anthemius
Tradução moderna em inglês
Gregory to Anthemius, Subdeacon of Campania.
After the first candidate elected as bishop of Surrentum [Sorrento] proved unfit, they have elected Amandus, a priest at the oratory of Saint Severinus in the Lucullan Camp [a fortress near Naples].
I need you to send this priest to me without delay -- set aside all excuses. If nothing disqualifies him, we will fulfill the petitioners' wishes with Christ's help.
Since his life and conduct can best be judged where he has long lived, I need you and our brother and fellow bishop Fortunatus to investigate him carefully. If nothing stands in the way of his promotion to the sacred office, send him to me immediately.
One complication: our glorious daughter Clementina may object to losing him. Go to her and secure her consent if you can. But if she resists, send him to me anyway. We should do our best to respect the feelings of our people -- but not at the cost of blocking what is needed for the care of souls.
Texto inglês de origem
Book X, Letter 19 To Anthemius, Subdeacon. Gregory to Anthemius, Subdeacon of Campania. After he who had been elected to the episcopate of the city of Surrentum had appeared to us to be unfit, they elected Amandus, presbyter of the oratory of Saint Severinus, which is in the Lucullan camp. Wherefore we enjoin on your Experience, laying aside excuses, to take care to send the said presbyter to us with all speed, to the end that, if there is nothing to hinder him from coming, the desires of the petitioners may with the help of Christ be fulfilled. As to his life and deeds, seeing that they can be better known where he has long lived, let it be your care, together with our brother and fellow bishop, Fortunatus , to make diligent enquiry. And if there is nothing in the way of his promotion to the sacred order, he should be sent to us without any delay. But, lest our glorious daughter Clementina should take this amiss, let your Experience go to her, and do this thing with her consent. If, however, she should be disposed to resist, let your Experience still send him hither without delay, since we ought so to pacify the minds of our children as still not to obstruct benefit to souls.