To Callinicus, Exarch of Italy, on the Schismatics of Capritana

Gregory to Callinicus, and so on. [a]

Along with your news of your victories over the Slavs, know that I have been refreshed with great joy that the bearers of this letter, who are hurrying from the island of Capritana to be joined to the unity of holy church, have been sent by your excellency to the blessed Peter, prince of the apostles. For by this you will prevail all the more over your enemies, if you call back under the yoke of the true Lord those you know to be the enemies of God; and you will carry on your causes among men with all the more success, the more sincerely and devoutly you uphold the causes of God. [b]

Now as to your wish that a copy be shown me of the order sent to you for the defense of the schismatic: your excellency, so very dear to me, ought to have considered carefully that, although that order was obtained, you are not commanded in it to turn away those who come to the unity of the church, but only, in this unsettled time, not to compel those who are unwilling to come. So you must inform our most pious emperors of these things with all speed, so that they may know how in their times, through the help of Almighty God and your efforts, schismatics are hurrying back of their own accord. What I have decided about the ordering of things on the island of Capritana your excellency will learn through our most reverend brother and fellow bishop Marinianus. But I would have you know that this has caused me no slight distress: your majordomo, who took charge of the petition of the bishop who wished to return, declared that he had lost it, and afterward the church’s adversaries got hold of him. In my opinion this came not from his carelessness but from his corruption. So I wonder that your excellency has not punished him in any way for his fault. And yet I soon blamed myself for wondering at this, for where the lord Justinus gives advice, heretics cannot be brought to account. [c]

You tell us, moreover, that you wish to keep the anniversary of Peter, prince of the apostles, in the city of Rome. We pray Almighty God to protect you with his mercy and to grant you the fulfillment of your wishes. But I ask that the most eloquent man I mentioned either come with you, or, if he does not come, withdraw from attendance on you. Or at least, if your excellency should be unable to come because of business that may arise, let him either enter into communion with the unity of holy church, or, I ask, let him have no share in your counsels. For I hear he is a good man, were he not in a most harmful error. As to the case of Maximus, since we can no longer hold out against the insistence of your sweetness, you will learn from Castorius the notary what we have decided. [d]