To Bishop Paulus, on His Wish to Leave Naples

Gregory to Paulus, and so on. [a]

I appointed your fraternity to preside for the present over the church of Naples, so that you might turn to God all you can by persuasive preaching. And while you ought to be giving your whole mind to this work, you are in a hurry to return before you have brought forth this fruit for the Lord, and you ask me to settle the affairs of that church quickly, though my mind is by no means idle about it in the meantime. But since I want to make the well-being of this church firm and secure, I think it necessary to consider the matter in long and careful deliberation, so that I can set its affairs in order by ordaining a worthy man whom Christ may reveal to us. So meanwhile let your fraternity strive to watch over the good of souls, so that the opinion I have of you may be strengthened by the results of your work. [c]

All you wrote about the deacon Peter has now been made known to us by the former consul Theodore. Now that I know he is loyal to you and, by your testimony, works for the good of the church, he ought to fear no one’s opposition or hostility. Rather, he should keep on benefiting the church and serving God all the more watchfully as he feels that others bear him a grudge, so that they may have no power at all to harm him. And from now on your fraternity ought not to be uneasy about him, since no underhand dealings will have any effect on me.