Gregory to the clergy, order, and people of the city of Osimo. Having learned that your Church has long been bereft of pastoral solicitude, after we came to know that your city had been recovered and, with the Lord's help, restored to the jurisdiction of the commonwealth, it has been our care solemnly to delegate the visitation of your Church to our brother and fellow-bishop Severus, bishop of the city of Ancona. To whom we have also given in charge, etc., as above, in letter 88. Gregory to Fortunatus, bishop of Naples. Since the father of the servants of God, whom I had sent to the city of Naples, has, God so disposing as it pleased Him, departed this life, it has seemed good to me to send the bearer of these presents, the monk Barbatianus, for the governance of those same monks.
We decree that he be for the present set as provost, so that if his manner of life shall please your Fraternity, you ought after some time to ordain him as their father. For there are good things which please in him. But this is a strong vice in him: that he seems to himself to be exceedingly wise. From which root how many branches of sin can spring forth, is plainly recognized. Let your Holiness therefore watch solicitously over him; and if you shall find that he becomes careful in governance and humble in his own mind, then let him, God being the author, bring him to the honour of abbot. But if he makes less progress in humility, let him defer his ordination and report to me. (See book X, letter 24.)