Letter 9150

From: Pope Gregory I To: Romanus, Defender of Sicily Date: ~599 AD Context: Gregory introduces men from Histria who are journeying to find their bishop in Sicily The men who bear this letter to you are from Histria [Istria] and are seeking their bishop, who I believe is currently residing somewhere in Sicily. I ask you to assist them in locating him and in whatever they need to complete their journey safely. These are troubled times for travel, especially for men coming from a region still in the grip of ecclesiastical division. Treat them with the hospitality that strangers deserve and the pastoral care that wandering Christians require.

J raeBentium portitores hic de HiBtriae ■ partibus venienteB * ab epiecopo suo, qui nunc in Siciliae deget partibuB^, cum noBtro ee perrexisse aolacio poposcenint : quos hinc'' ordinanteB fecimuB ambulare. SuBcipieDS ergo eoB experientia taa ordinet, qualiter ad praedictum episcopum suum velocius valeant pervenire'', ne, aicut aBtruunt, scismaticorum illarum partium eos alii ad perauadendum praeveniant ''. Quantum enim indicant, is ipse cpiecopus pro unitate fidei sd nos habet desiderium venieadi. Con- currendum ei^o ilUs est, ut bona quae cupiunt Domino adiuvaote valeant perScere. Sed experientia tua aut per se, si in vicino eet, aut suis epistolia eundem epiacopum adhortetur, ut propitiante Domino ad apostolorum timina properare featinet acituma, qnod a nobis cum omni auacipiatur affectu. Cui expenBam itineris, qualiter ad nos veniat, praebere te volumua. Sin vero oneroBum illi est hic* venire et Siciliam faabi- tare disponit atque in unitate ecclesiae acripturae proveniente' cautela^ pennanere conBentit, et hoc nobis tua suggestiotte' indicare non dilTerae, ut, qualiter illic con- sultum habere valeat, expensa re auxiliante Domino dispooamus. Sed et hamm latorea quem ad modum ad eundem epiecopum suum perveniant, tuae concurBioniB eit atque Bolacii, uf venientes a nobis nihilominUB'' sentiant.