Letter 4029: Gregory to Januarius, Bishop of Caralis (Cagliari). It has come to our knowledge that in the place within the province of Sardinia called Phausiana it is said to have been once the custom to ordain a bishop; but that, through stress of circumstances, the custom has for long fallen into disuse. But, as we are aware that now, owing to scarcity of ...
Gregory to Januarius, Bishop of Cagliari.
It has come to our attention that in the place within the province of Sardinia called Phausiana, it was once customary to have an ordained bishop, but that through difficult circumstances this practice has long fallen into disuse.
Since we are aware that the scarcity of priests in that area has left certain pagans living there — people existing like wild animals, entirely ignorant of the worship of God — we urge your Fraternity to act without delay and ordain a bishop there according to the ancient practice. Choose a man suited to this work, one who will devote himself with pastoral zeal to bringing wanderers into the Lord's flock.
In this way, with the Lord's help, your appointment of a bishop there will not prove to have been unnecessary on your part, nor will we have cause to regret reestablishing what had once been discontinued.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.
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