Gregory to all the bishops throughout Illyricum. It confers upon us gladness concerning your solicitude, and renders your fraternity secure concerning its own ordination, if the order of ancient custom is preserved. Since therefore, from the letters which you directed to us through the presbyter Maximianus and the deacon Andreas, we have learned that the consent of you all, in the person of John our brother and fellow-bishop, has concurred with the will of the most serene prince, a great exultation possessed us that such a man has been advanced, God being the author, to the office of the priesthood — a man who has been approved by the judgement of the election of all as worthy.
Therefore, according to the desire of your petition, we confirm the aforesaid brother and our fellow-bishop, established in that order of the priesthood in which he is, by the authority of our assent, and we make known that we hold his consecration ratified, sending the pallium. And since, according to custom, we have committed to him our vices to be discharged, therefore we have of necessity foreseen that your fraternity should be exhorted, so that you may in no way delay to obey him in those things which pertain to ecclesiastical order and to the rectitude of discipline, or in other matters in which the decrees of the canons stand not opposed, that he may be able, by the obedience shown, to declare that your charity has chosen him with a sincere judgement. (See above, book I, letter 4; indiction 9; and below, letter 23.)