Letter 5023: Our hearing of the death of our brother and fellow bishop John has greatly saddened us especially as that city at this time has lost the solace of pastoral care. Wherefore, since very many advantages to the Church itself demand that, under the guidance of Christ, a priest should be ordained without delay, we accordingly charge your Experience t...

Gregory to Castorius, Notary. The news of our brother and fellow bishop John's death has deeply saddened us, especially since that city has now lost the consolation of pastoral care at such a critical time. Since the Church's many pressing needs demand that a new bishop be ordained without delay under Christ's guidance, we charge you to urge the clergy and people with all urgency not to postpone their election. Above all, impress upon them that in this common cause they must set aside personal interests. There must be no bribery in this election. If they chase after payments, they will lose all discernment and judge a man worthy of the office not for his merits but for his money. Let them understand this clearly: anyone who presumes to make a commodity of God's gift by attempting to purchase it is not merely unworthy of the priesthood but will incur further guilt. Let the one chosen be distinguished by merit, not by the size of his bribes. The penalty will fall on both the one elected and those who elected him if they attempt, with sacrilegious intent, to corrupt the purity of the priesthood. Once one or two candidates have been elected, make certain that five senior presbyters and five of the leading laypeople come to us together. If you judge that other clergy beyond those already planning to come should also be present, send them to us without delay, so that there will be no excuse for postponement and no further delay in setting the Church in order.

Book V, Letter 23 To Castorius, Notary. Gregory to Castorius, etc. Our hearing of the death of our brother and fellow bishop John has greatly saddened us especially as that city at this time has lost the solace of pastoral care. Wherefore, since very many advantages to the Church itself demand that, under the guidance of Christ, a priest should be ordained without delay, we accordingly charge your Experience to exhort the clergy and people with all urgency that they delay not to elect for themselves a priest to be consecrated. This however, and before all things, we desire you to press upon them, that in the general cause they regard not their own private interests. Let there be no venality, then, in this election, lest, while they covet rewards, they lose their discrimination of choice and think that man worthy for this office who may have pleased them, not by his merits, but by his gifts. For let them especially and absolutely know this, that he is not only unworthy of the priesthood, but will also certainly become further culpable, whosoever may presume to make merchandise of the gift of God by thinking to purchase it for a price. Wherefore let not him that is liberal in bribes, but him that is worthy for his merits, be chosen. For the penalty will affect both the elected and the electors, if they attempt with sacrilegious mind to violate the purity of the priesthood. Moreover, whether one or two may have been elected, by all means warn five of the senior presbyters and five of the leading people to come to us together. But with respect to the clergy, if, besides those who determine to come, you are of opinion that the presence of any others is necessary, send them to us without delay, that there may be no plea of excuse, nor any delay ensue, in setting the Church in order.