Letter 4051: I am writing to you jointly because the matter at hand falls within both your jurisdictions, and I want to ensure...

Gregory to Peter and Providentius, bishops of Istria. God, who rejoices in the unity of the faithful and reveals the truth to those who seek it, open your hearts, most beloved brothers, to see with what desire I wish you to be held in the bosom of the holy universal Church, and to remain united in her concord. This I do not doubt will happen if, casting aside the spur of contention, you intend to have genuine satisfaction given you concerning those matters about which there is doubt. Having been informed by the report of Castorius my notary on his return, I learned that your fraternity desires to come to me, provided a promise is given that you will suffer no trouble. Learning this, I both wish it and, kindled by the ardor of charity, invite you to undertake the labor of coming to me, so that conferring together, we may both speak of what is true and pleasing to our Redeemer, and hold to it by all means. For my part, with the favor of divine protection, I am prepared to satisfy you concerning those things about which you doubt, and I trust, with God's help, that my explanation will so adhere to your hearts that nothing doubtful can remain for your charity hereafter. For those things which the four most holy synods have held and defined, just as our most holy predecessor Pope Leo, so do we hold, follow, and maintain, and we dissent from their faith in no way. But since a person present satisfies more than a letter, I urge you, most beloved brothers, to come to me as I have said, provided that once reason has been perceived, no dissension may separate you from the concord of the holy universal Church. Of this, however, let your charity be certain: that I will both receive you with the affection that is fitting, and dismiss you with goodwill. And I promise that neither you nor any others who wish to come to me for this cause will suffer any affliction or trouble. But whether divine mercy moves your heart to agree with me, or whether — God forbid — you continue in that dissension, we will take care to release you to return to your homes whenever you wish, without injury or trouble, according to my promise.

AD PETRUM ET PROVIDENTIUM EPISCOPOS., Scribit de fide eis 8atisſacturum 5e, promiltitque Romam venienlibus nullam molesliam illalui un. Gregorius Petro et * Providentio episcopis Istrizx. Deus, qui lztatur in unitate fidelium, et revelat gquzrentibus veritatem , cordi vesiro, dilectissimi fratres, aperiat quanto vos desiderio in gremio cu- piam sanctzze univer-alis Ecclesiz contineri, et in ejus manere unitate concordes. Quod fore non du- bito, $i, abjecto contentionis stimulo, satisfieri vobis veraciter de his quibus est duhietas intendatis. Re- meantis autem Castorii notarii mei relatione edo- ctus Sum ſraterai:atem vestram ad me h:bere desi- derium veniendi, si promissum fuerit quia nullam molestiam sustinebit, Hoc ego cognoscens ct opto, el 8uccensus ardore charitaiis invito, ut ad me ve- niendi debeatis laborem assumere, quatenus pariter conſerentes, quz vera et Redemptori nostro sunt placita, et communiter loquamur, et modis omnibus teneamus. J7Y9 Ego vero, divine proteciionis gra- tia suffragante, satisfacere vobis de quibus dubitatis Rhem., etc., cum in Editis legatur : Quia eos $0= lummodo invenio, quos ex ejusdem partiibus Codices, quos jam monasteriis dedi, excerpsi. (Quid intricatius et obscurius ? Eerisr. L [Af. 48]. — * In muliis et melioribus Codicibus omittitur de Regio. Vul.ani domus et Vulcania nomine tellus. Eeisr., Li | Al. 44]. — * Sic 2p; elatur hic episcopus in omnibus Vatic., Anglic., Norim., Tel- mentia quod ita vobis satisſactio mea interius inha- rebit, ut nihil charitati vesire de c#tero possit au- biguum remanere. Nam illa quz $anciis8ima qua- tuor synodi Sapuerunt atque delinierunt, Siculti prxdecessor noster sanclissimus Leo papa, ita et nos $apimus, Sequimur, ac tenemus, nec ab earum ide aliquo modo dissentimus. Sed quia plus persona presens quam epistola $alisſacit, hortor, dilelissimi ſraires, ut ad me venire, sicut przxſatus sum, debea- tis, dummodo ratione percepla a concordia Sancl® universalis Ecclesiz dissensio vos nulla dissociet. Hoc tamen certa sit vestra charitas, quia - vos -et cum afſectu quo decet suscipio, et cum gratia re- laxabo. Nec aliquam vos vel quoscunque alios, qui B pro hac ad me causa venire voluerint, afflictionem vel molesliam sustinere > promitto. Sed seu ad con- Sentienduin mihi cor vesirum misericordia divina compunxerit, s:ve, quod absit, in ea vos durare dis- sensione contigerit, ad propria vos remeare quando volueritis, juxta promissionem meam Sine legsione vel molestia relaxare curabimus, © Mense Augusto, indictione 13. (Cf. Joan. Diac. |. , n, 37.)