Letter 1080: Although for a long time it has caused you no sorrow that the Church of God should be without a pontiff, yet as for us, we are both compelled by the charge of the office we bear and bound especially by the charity of our love for you, to take thought for its government, knowing that in its supervision lies at the same time advantage to your soul...

Book I, Letter 80 To the Clergy and Nobles of Corsica. Gregory to the Clergy and Nobles. An identical letter to each. Although it has not seemed to trouble you for a long time that the Church of God should be without a bishop, we for our part are compelled both by the duties of our office and by our special love for you to take thought for its governance. We know that oversight of the church also means the welfare of your souls. If a flock lacks a shepherd's care, it easily falls into the snares of the one who lies in wait. Since the church of Saona has long lacked a bishop, we have appointed our brother and fellow bishop Martinus as its permanent bishop, and we have assigned our brother Bishop Leo the task of overseeing it. We have also granted Leo authority to ordain priests and deacons in it and its parishes, and permitted him to manage its property as though he were its own bishop for as long as he serves there. We therefore urge you by this letter to receive the above-mentioned visitor with all devotion and show him reasonable obedience, as befits sons of the Church. Supported by your cooperation, he will be able to accomplish everything that benefits the church.

Book I, Letter 80 To the Clergy and Nobles of Corsica. Gregory to the Clergy, etc... A paribus. Although for a long time it has caused you no sorrow that the Church of God should be without a pontiff, yet as for us, we are both compelled by the charge of the office we bear and bound especially by the charity of our love for you, to take thought for its government, knowing that in its supervision lies at the same time advantage to your souls. For, if the care of a shepherd be wanting to a flock, it easily falls into the snares of the lier in wait. Accordingly, inasmuch as the church of Saona has long been deprived of the aid of a priest, we have held it necessary to constitute Martinus, our brother and fellow bishop, cardinal priest of the same , but to enjoin on Leo our brother and fellow bishop the work of its visitation. To the latter we have also granted licence to ordain presbyters and deacons in it and in its parishes, and have permitted him to make use of its property so long as be shall be there, as though he were its proper pontiff. And so we admonish you by these present writings that your Charity receive the aforesaid visitor with all devotion, and show him obedience in whatever is reasonable, as becomes sons of the Church, to the end that, supported by your devotion, he may be able to accomplish all that is found to conduce to the advantage of the above-named church.