Letter 3.20 to Bishop Gratiousus of Mentana (January 593)
Gregorius Gratioso episcopo Nomentano
Many Italian churches were destroyed in the recent raids, and their people were often left without a priest.
Ideoque fraternitati tuae curam gubernationemque sancti Anthemi ecclesiae, Curium Sabinorum territorio constitutae, praeuidimus committendam, quam tuae ecclesiae aggregari unirique necesse est, quatenus utrarumque ecclesiarum sacerdos recte, Christo adiuuante, possis exsistere. Et quaeque tibi de eius patrimonio uel de cleri ordinatione seu promotione uigilanti ac canonica uisa fuerint cura disponere, quippe ut pontifex proprius, liberam habebis ex praesenti nostra permissione licentiam.
Gratiosus should take good care of his flock, because his own salvation also depends on it.
(ed. Norberg 1982: 165–166, summarised by J. Szafranowski)