教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 239 章

Gregory to the clergy, the order, and the people residing at Croton. Learning of the death of your bishop, we have taken care to delegate solemnly to our brother and fellow-bishop John the visitation of the Church thus left destitute. To him we have given it in charge that he suffer nothing concerning the promotions of clerics, the revenue, the ornaments, or the ministries to be usurped by anyone. It becomes you to obey his constant exhortations, so that in the ecclesiastical office there may be sought out a priest who differs in no respect from the venerable canons.

And when he has been requested, let him come to us to be ordained, with the solemnity of a decree confirmed by the signatures of all and accompanied by the visitor's document, taking care above all things not to elect a lay person of whatever life or merit. For know that not only is such a person by no means to be advanced to the summit of the episcopate, but also that you yourselves can obtain no pardon by any intercessions: rather know beyond doubt that all among you who shall be shown to have aspired on behalf of a lay person are to be made estranged from office and from communion. (Cf. John the Deacon, Book III, ch. 22.)