To Maximianus, Bishop of Syracuse, on His Charge over the Churches of Sicily

Gregory to Maximianus, and so on. [a]

We carry out our heavenly charge more effectively if we share our burdens with our brothers. For this reason we appoint you, our most reverend brother and fellow bishop, to have charge of all the churches of Sicily in the name of the Apostolic See. Everyone there who is counted as being in the religious life is to be subject to your fraternity by our authority, so that from now on they will not need to make such long sea voyages to come to us over small matters. But if there happen to be difficult matters that can in no way be settled by your fraternity’s judgment, in those alone let our judgment be asked for. In that way, relieved of the least matters, we can give ourselves more effectively to greater causes. And let it be understood that we grant this delegated authority not to your see but to your person, because we have learned from your past life what we may expect of you in your future conduct. [c]

The month of December, the tenth indiction. [e]