To Peter, Bishop of Aleria, on the Converts of Corsica

Gregory to Peter, bishop of Corsica. When we received your fraternity’s letter, we gave great thanks to Almighty God that you had been so kind as to refresh us with the news that many souls are being gathered in. So let your fraternity work hard, with the Lord’s help, to bring to completion the work you have begun. As for those who were once believers but, through negligence or under pressure, have gone back to the worship of idols, hurry to bring them back to the faith. Lay on them a penance of a few days, so that they may weep over their guilt. Then, with God’s help, they will hold to what they are returning to all the more firmly, the more fully they have mourned what they are now leaving. As for those who have not yet been baptized, let your fraternity hurry to gather them in to Almighty God: by warning them, by pleading with them, by alarming them about the judgment to come, and also by giving them reasons why they should not worship blocks of wood and stones. Then, at his coming, when the strict day of judgment arrives, your holiness may be found among the number of the saints. For what more profitable or more lofty work could you be engaged in than taking thought for bringing souls to life and gathering them together, and bringing in an undying gain to your Lord, who has given you the post of preaching? [a]

We are also sending your fraternity fifty solidi to buy garments for those who are to be baptized. And we have had the property your fraternity asked for given to the presbyter of the church on Mount Negeugnus, on the understanding that its value is to be deducted from the money he used to receive. [c] Your fraternity has also asked to be allowed to build yourself a bishop’s residence at the church not far from the same mountain. I most gladly agree to this, since the nearer you are, the more good you will be able to do to the souls who are there. Because your holiness pleaded for him, we have made the bearer of this letter an acolyte, and we have sent him back to serve you. So if he proves still more useful in winning souls, he will be in a position to be promoted further. [e]