To All the Bishops of Illyricum

Gregory to all the bishops, and so on. [a]

When the order of ancient custom is kept, it gives us joy at your carefulness, and it makes your fraternity secure in your own ordination. We have learned from the letters you sent us by the presbyter Maximianus and the deacon Andrew that the consent of all of you and the will of the most serene prince have come together on the person of our brother and fellow bishop John. So we greatly rejoice that, under God’s direction, such a man has been raised to the office of the priesthood as the judgment of all has approved as worthy. Therefore, as you have asked, we confirm our brother and fellow bishop by the authority of our assent in the order of the priesthood in which he has been placed, and we declare that we ratify his consecration by sending him the pallium. And since, according to custom, we have entrusted him with the authority of our vicar, to act in our place, we must take the precaution of urging your fraternity not to hesitate in any way to obey him in matters of church order and the right course of discipline, or in other things not ruled out by the decrees of the canons. In that way the soundness of your judgment in electing him will be shown by the obedience you give him. [b]