Gregory to Candidus, bishop of the great old city (Civitavecchia). Your Fraternity has informed us that you do not have presbyters, and that from this cause you are enduring no small necessity. And since you assert that in certain monasteries established in your parish there are certain monks who might be fit for this office, and you request that with our authority you may promote them to this order, therefore, by the present letters, we grant you license to take monks—with the consent of their abbot—from the monasteries situated in your parish, and to ordain them presbyters.
But above all things be solicitous that you subtly inquire into the life and conduct of those who are to be established in this office, and then, if they are worthy, ordain them. But if any fault should become manifest in them which, by canonical prohibition, does not permit them to be advanced to this order, let no supplication or favor of any person creep upon you, so that you should lay hands upon such men; lest, which God forbid, this honor become both a punishment to them and a sin to you.