Letter 7021

From: Gregory the Great, Pope, in Rome To: Sebastianus, bishop Date: ~597 AD Context: Gregory instructs Sebastianus to encourage the clergy and people of Rimini to elect a suitable bishop. Gregory to Sebastianus, bishop. The church of Rimini has been without a bishop long enough. I direct you to go among the clergy and people there and encourage them to proceed with the election of a suitable candidate. Help them focus on the right criteria: faith, character, pastoral ability. Help them set aside personal loyalties and factional interests. And when they have reached a consensus on a suitable candidate, bring the result to me so that the ordination can proceed. This is urgent. Get it moving. Gregory

AD SEBASTIANUM EPISCOPUM. Ut clerum et plebem Ariminensem ad idonei anlislilis electionem urgeat. | Gregorius Sebasliano episcopo. Pasioralis nos cura conslringit Ecclesiis sacerdo- lis moderamine deslitutis sollicita consideratione concurrere, Et ideo quia Ariminensis Ecclesia cui ſraternitas vestra Visitationis impendit officium, diu sacerdolis proprii, corporis qua nostis impediente molestia, paslorali est regimine deslituta , cleri vel civium Pprecibus permoti, eumdem episcopum non destitimus admonere ut $i ex eadem molestia se me- lioratum esse sentirel, ad Suscepti Sacerdolii debuis- set ministerium remeare. Qui $semel a nobis sx- piusve commonitus, cadem urgente molestia nunc scriplis nobis supplicatione porrecta noscitur inti- masse nullatenus se ad regimen ejusdem Ecclesie vel susceptum offlicium, impediente moleslia, assur- gere posse. Qua personz ejus des-perationve compulsi, necessarium duximus de ordinatione nos ejusdem Ecclesiz cegi:are. Horlamur ergo ut clerum, ple- bemque Ecclesiz ejusdem sollicita debeatis admoni- tione compellere, ut Sibi cum Domini auxilio talem preliciendum eligant Sacerdolem, qui et aptus tanto minisLlerio valeat inveniri, el a vernerandis cauonibus nullo modo respuatur. Qui dum fuerit postwlatus, cum $o0lemaitlate decrelti omuium $ubscriptionibus roborati, vestrarum qguoque lestimonio lilterarum, huc sacrandus occurrat, qualenus Ecclesia ipsa pro- prium, auxiliante Domino, habere valeat sacerdo- . let. * Mense Maio.