Gregory the Great (Wisigothic)→Unknown|gregory great
Gregory to Peter and Providentius, bishops of Istria [the region at the head of the Adriatic, whose bishops were in schism over the Three Chapters controversy].
May God, who rejoices in the unity of the faithful and reveals the truth to those who seek it, open your hearts, dearest brothers, to understand how greatly I desire to hold you in the bosom of the holy universal Church and to see you remain in harmony within her unity. I have no doubt this will come to pass, if you set aside the sting of contention and sincerely attend to having your doubts resolved.
From the report of my notary Castorius [a papal agent] upon his return, I have learned that your brotherhood desires to come to me, provided you receive a promise that you will suffer no harm. Learning this, I both welcome it and, burning with the fire of charity, invite you to undertake the labor of coming to me, so that by conferring together we may discuss what is true and pleasing to our Redeemer, and hold to it by every means.
For my part, with the help of divine protection, I am confident that I can so satisfy you regarding your doubts that my explanation will so thoroughly settle in your hearts that nothing uncertain can remain for your charity hereafter. For those things which the four most holy synods [the Councils of Nicaea, Constantinople, Ephesus, and Chalcedon] taught and defined — just as our predecessor, the most holy Pope Leo [Leo I, "the Great"], held them, so too do we hold, follow, and maintain them, and we in no way dissent from their faith.
But because a person present satisfies better than a letter, I urge you, dearest brothers, as I have said, to come to me — provided that, once you have heard the reasoning, no disagreement separates you from the harmony of the holy universal Church.
Of this, however, let your charity be certain: I will receive you with the affection that is fitting, and release you with good grace. I promise that neither you nor any others who wish to come to me for this purpose will suffer any affliction or harm. Whether divine mercy moves your hearts to agree with me, or whether — God forbid — you persist in that disagreement, I will ensure that you may return to your homes whenever you wish, without injury or harm, in accordance with my promise.
Dated in the month of August, in the thirteenth indiction [AD 595].
Gregory to Peter and Providentius, bishops of Istria [the region at the head of the Adriatic, whose bishops were in schism over the Three Chapters controversy].
May God, who rejoices in the unity of the faithful and reveals the truth to those who seek it, open your hearts, dearest brothers, to understand how greatly I desire to hold you in the bosom of the holy universal Church and to see you remain in harmony within her unity. I have no doubt this will come to pass, if you set aside the sting of contention and sincerely attend to having your doubts resolved.
From the report of my notary Castorius [a papal agent] upon his return, I have learned that your brotherhood desires to come to me, provided you receive a promise that you will suffer no harm. Learning this, I both welcome it and, burning with the fire of charity, invite you to undertake the labor of coming to me, so that by conferring together we may discuss what is true and pleasing to our Redeemer, and hold to it by every means.
For my part, with the help of divine protection, I am confident that I can so satisfy you regarding your doubts that my explanation will so thoroughly settle in your hearts that nothing uncertain can remain for your charity hereafter. For those things which the four most holy synods [the Councils of Nicaea, Constantinople, Ephesus, and Chalcedon] taught and defined — just as our predecessor, the most holy Pope Leo [Leo I, "the Great"], held them, so too do we hold, follow, and maintain them, and we in no way dissent from their faith.
But because a person present satisfies better than a letter, I urge you, dearest brothers, as I have said, to come to me — provided that, once you have heard the reasoning, no disagreement separates you from the harmony of the holy universal Church.
Of this, however, let your charity be certain: I will receive you with the affection that is fitting, and release you with good grace. I promise that neither you nor any others who wish to come to me for this purpose will suffer any affliction or harm. Whether divine mercy moves your hearts to agree with me, or whether — God forbid — you persist in that disagreement, I will ensure that you may return to your homes whenever you wish, without injury or harm, in accordance with my promise.
Dated in the month of August, in the thirteenth indiction [AD 595].
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.