To Fortunatus, Bishop of Fano, on Selling Church Vessels to Ransom Captives

Gregory to Fortunatus, bishop of Fano. Just as it is blameworthy and deserving of punishment for anyone to sell consecrated vessels except in the cases allowed by law and the sacred canons, so it is no matter for reproach or penalty if they are disposed of with a compassionate purpose, for the ransoming of captives. Now we find from what your fraternity has told us that you have borrowed money to ransom captives, that you do not have the means to repay it, and that for this reason you wish, with our authority, to dispose of some consecrated vessels. In this case, since the decrees of both the laws and the canons approve it, we have thought fit to give our approval, and we grant you leave to dispose of the consecrated vessels. But so that their sale may not perhaps stir up ill feeling against you, they ought to be disposed of, up to the amount of the debt, in the presence of John our defensor, and their price should be paid to the creditors. So when the business has been completed with care of this kind, neither will the creditors suffer loss from having lent the money, nor will your fraternity suffer ill will, either now or at any time in the future.