To Marinianus, Bishop of Ravenna, on the Pallium

Gregory to Marinianus, bishop of Ravenna. Moved by the kindness of the Apostolic See and by the order of ancient custom, we have thought fit to grant the use of the pallium to your fraternity, who are known to have taken up the office of government in the church of Ravenna. Remember to use it nowhere but in your city’s own church, when the sons, that is, the laity, have already been dismissed, as you are going from the audience chamber to celebrate the sacred rites of mass. When mass is finished, take care to lay it aside again in the audience chamber. Outside the church we do not allow you to use it at all, except four times in the year, in the litanies that we named to your predecessor John. [a]

At the same time we give you this admonition. As through the Lord’s bounty you have obtained from us the use of an ornament of this kind, to the honor of the priestly office, so you must strive to adorn the office you have taken up, to the glory of Christ, with uprightness of manners and of deeds. For in this way you will be conspicuous for two ornaments that answer to each other, if the good qualities of your soul agree with such a garment of the body. We also confirm by our authority all the privileges that are clearly shown to have been granted to your church in the past, and we decree that they remain inviolate.