Letter 3.13 to Bishop Agnellus of Fondi (November 592)
Gregory to Agnellus, bishop from Fondi, now incardinated in Terracina
The clergy and people of Terracina speak highly of Bishop Agnellus of Fondi, and asked Gregory to let him be their bishop, since their old Bishop Peter has died and Fondi has been taken by the enemy [i.e. the Lombards – JSz]. Gregory then describes to Agnellus how he should conduct himself as a bishop.
And whatever you take care to ordain and carry out with wisdom and canon law, concerning the affairs of the aforesaid church, either in its patrimony or in the ordination and promotion of the clergy, and in all things pertaining to it in general, you will have a free faculty in all things as its own priest.
Agnellus still has full power over the diocese of Fondi as well.
(trans. Martyn 2004: 245–246, slightly altered and summarised by J. Szafranowski)