To Boniface, Chief Defensor, on the Privileges of the Defensors

Gregory to Boniface, on the privileges of the defensors. [a]

Those who work faithfully in the interests of the church should receive the benefit of a suitable reward. Then we will be seen to have made a worthy return for their services, and they will show themselves all the more useful because of the comfort granted them. Since, then, those who hold the office of defensor are known to labor in the church’s cases and in the service of the pontiffs, we have thought it right that they should enjoy the following privileges, granted them as a reward. We appoint that, just as regionaries were established long ago in the school of notaries and in that of the subdeacons, through the kindness of the pontiffs, so also among the defensors seven who have commended themselves by proven usefulness are to be honored with the rank of regionary. And we appoint that, in the absence of the pontiff, these may sit anywhere in any assembly of clergy, and enjoy in every respect the privileges of their rank. Furthermore, if anyone who reaches this position of first place should happen to live in another province for his own advantage, he must still hold his place of first rank in every respect. So he will be the chief of all the defensors, as one who, even before he obtained his place of first rank, had never ceased to devote himself by constant personal attention to the interests of the church and the service of the pontiff. [b]

These decrees, then, established by us for the privileges and constitution of the defensors, we appoint to be kept in perpetual force and beyond challenge, both what we have decreed in writing and what is seen to have been ordained in our presence. And we also decree that they are not to be overturned or changed, in whole or in part, on any occasion whatever, by any of the pontiffs. For it is a very harsh thing, and especially contrary to good conduct in priests, for anyone to try, under any kind of excuse, to cancel what has been well ordained, and by his example also to teach others to undo his own decrees after his time. The month of April, in the first indiction.