To Desiderius and Syagrius, Bishops in Gaul, Commending Augustine

Gregory to Desiderius of Vienne and Syagrius of Autun, bishops of Gaul. Sent in identical copies. [a] Knowing your sincere love, we are fully assured that, out of love for Peter, the prince of the apostles, you will devotedly give your help to our men; especially since the nature of the case requires you to give help even of your own accord, and all the more when you see them laboring. So we inform your holiness that, by the Lord’s ordering, we have sent Augustine, the servant of God, who carries this letter, whose zeal and earnestness are well known to us, with other servants of God, for the sake of souls in those parts. When you have learned fully from his account what he has been charged with, let your fraternity give him your help in every way the case may require, so that you may be, as is becoming and right, helpers of a good work. Let your fraternity, then, take care to show yourselves so devoted in this matter that your action may prove to us the truth of the good report we have heard of you. We commend to you in every respect our most beloved common son, Candidus the presbyter, to whom we have entrusted the patrimony of our church in those parts.