Letter 9152

From: Gregory the Great, Pope, in Rome To: Fortunatus, Bishop of Naples Date: ~599 AD Context: Gregory orders Fortunatus not to allow soldiers to be quartered in the monastery of virgins. Gregory to Fortunatus, bishop of Naples. It has come to my attention that soldiers are being quartered in the monastery of virgins in your diocese. This is absolutely unacceptable and must stop immediately. A monastery of consecrated women is not a military billet. The presence of soldiers in such a community is a direct threat to the integrity of the religious life the women have dedicated themselves to. Whatever military necessity is claimed, it does not justify this. Remove the soldiers from the monastery at once. Find alternative accommodation for them. And ensure that this does not happen again. If the military authorities resist, inform me immediately and I will address the matter at a higher level. The protection of consecrated women is a fundamental responsibility of the church. Gregory

AD FORTUNATUM NEAPOLITANUM EPISCOPUM. Ne milites in monaslerio virginum hospitentur. Gregorius Fortunato episcopo Neapolitano. Insinuavit nobis latrix praseatium Agnella abbatissa C quod intra monasterium ipsus milites hospitentur. Et omnino de ſraternitatis vesir® sollicitudine mirati Sumus cur hoc patienter tulerit, et non illud eum orani celeritate ſecerit emendari. Unde horiamur ut vel nunc $tudii ves(ri sit instanter eis quorum ioter- est imminere quatenus Sine aliqua excusatione tol- lantur exinde, et nullus illic ulterius * hospiuum et melatum accipiat, ne callidus hostis, occasionem inveniens, de deceptione religiosi habitus, quod absit, valeat exsuliare.