Gregory the Great (Wisigothic)→Unknown|gregory great
Gregory to John, Bishop of Ravenna.
We are commanded by the Lord's precepts to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to share in their afflictions as though they were our own infirmities. Mindful of these commands, your fraternity, with fitting devotion, first showed compassion by visiting our brother and fellow bishop Castorius [bishop of an uncertain Italian see], and afterwards, as his bodily illness grew worse, received him into the city of Ravenna. By this act you have made not only us, but God himself without doubt your debtor, since you have shown that you grieved for your brother's sickness, and in the suffering of His own member, you not only visited the sick man but also took him in.
I myself, on account of his simplicity, was entirely reluctant to ordain him there, but the insistence of those petitioning made it impossible for me to refuse. However, if it can be arranged, you would do both me and him a great service if you could send him to me by way of Sicily — provided, of course, that you judge the journey would not be too burdensome for him.
As for the bishops who belong to our jurisdiction but who cannot come to us because enemy forces stand in the way [the Lombards, who controlled much of central Italy, cutting off Rome's communication with northern dioceses], let your fraternity take care of them. Do so, however, in such a way that they are by no means summoned to the city of Ravenna for their affairs, lest we appear to trouble or exhaust them in any way during these times. Rather, if there are matters in which they seem justly deserving of reproof, they should always be admonished by letters from your fraternity. If, however, there is anything more serious that your letters alone cannot settle, we wish you to refer the matter faithfully to us, so that, strengthened by the testimony of your inquiry, we may, with the Lord's help, arrange what is fitting according to the laws and canons with sound counsel.
July, in the tenth indiction [AD 592].
We are commanded by the Lord's precepts to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to share in their afflictions as though they were our own infirmities. Mindful of these commands, your fraternity, with fitting devotion, first showed compassion by visiting our brother and fellow bishop Castorius [bishop of an uncertain Italian see], and afterwards, as his bodily illness grew worse, received him into the city of Ravenna. By this act you have made not only us, but God himself without doubt your debtor, since you have shown that you grieved for your brother's sickness, and in the suffering of His own member, you not only visited the sick man but also took him in.
I myself, on account of his simplicity, was entirely reluctant to ordain him there, but the insistence of those petitioning made it impossible for me to refuse. However, if it can be arranged, you would do both me and him a great service if you could send him to me by way of Sicily — provided, of course, that you judge the journey would not be too burdensome for him.
As for the bishops who belong to our jurisdiction but who cannot come to us because enemy forces stand in the way [the Lombards, who controlled much of central Italy, cutting off Rome's communication with northern dioceses], let your fraternity take care of them. Do so, however, in such a way that they are by no means summoned to the city of Ravenna for their affairs, lest we appear to trouble or exhaust them in any way during these times. Rather, if there are matters in which they seem justly deserving of reproof, they should always be admonished by letters from your fraternity. If, however, there is anything more serious that your letters alone cannot settle, we wish you to refer the matter faithfully to us, so that, strengthened by the testimony of your inquiry, we may, with the Lord's help, arrange what is fitting according to the laws and canons with sound counsel.
July, in the tenth indiction [AD 592].
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.