Letter 2

From: Pope Anastasius II, bishop of Rome To: Clovis, King of the Franks Date: ~497 AD Context: Pope Anastasius II, letter 2; Anastasius writes to Clovis [the Frankish king who had recently converted to Catholic Christianity in ~496 AD, a momentous event in the history of Western Christendom] congratulating him on his conversion and welcoming the Franks to the Catholic faith. Anastasius, bishop of Rome, servant of the servants of God, to the glorious King Clovis of the Franks, greetings. The joy with which the beginning of my pontificate has been greeted is increased by the news that reaches me of your conversion to the Catholic faith. That the king of the Franks, who governs the most powerful kingdom in the Latin West, has now been baptized and joined himself to the Catholic church — this is news that makes the angels sing and that gives the church in the West a renewed confidence in its future. I cannot but be grateful that the conversion of so great a king coincides with the beginning of my pontificate, as if Providence wished to mark the moment with a sign of divine favor. What I ask of you, as you begin this new chapter of your reign as a Christian king: govern with justice, protect the church and its rights, care for the poor, and make the faith that you have received visible in your governance as well as in your personal life. A king who is Christian not merely in name but in conduct is the greatest gift the church can receive from a prince. I write to welcome you and to offer the support and blessing of the apostolic see. Anastasius, bishop of Rome

Anastasii II papae ad Clodoveum Francorum regem, (a. 497.) 82. liegis conversionem cum exordio pontificatus sui contigisse gratulatur: non posse non laetaH sedem apostolicam, quod refrigescente caritate multorum et Petri ^) E* H*** in hancque partem. Mox c' seq. usurpatione nominis sacerdotiit i' usvrpato nomine sacerdotii. In mss. (etiam E'* H** H*") et h* deest nomine. 1 H* sine usurpatione nomine. Deinde H® continentibus, ^) H'J^J®J'^J'*J*^c'Bq. viinisteriis, U^omnibus. Mox E^sentiebaty K^proprie erat, '*'■') E* o/ferenti, h* olferentc, Mox ed. omitt. sine fine, H'* omitt. fine. (a. 497.) navintln tot tempestntibm acta Deus in tanto principe Ecclesiae suae promdeHt, qui possit eam tueri, Cludoeco^) Aiiastasius episcopus. Tiium, gloriose fili, in Cliristiana fide cum exordio nostro Ui pontificatu contigisse^) gratulamur. Quippe sedes Petri in taB** occasione non potest non laetari, quum pleiiitudinem geutiom intue- tur ad eani veloci gradu concurrere, et per temporum spatia replcri sagenam, quam iii altum jussus est mittere idem piscator hominmn et coelestis Jerusalem beatus daviger. Quod sereuitati iaae ina- nuare voluimus per Eumerium presbyterum, ut quum audiyeris laeti- tiam patris, crescas in boiiis operibus, impleas gaudium noBtnmi, et sis corona nostra, gaudeatque mater Ecclesia de tanti regis, quem nuper Deo peperit, profectu. Laetifica ergo, gloriose et iUustris fili, matrem tuam, et esto illi in columnam ferream! Nam refrige- scit caritiis multorum, et malorum liominum versutia navicula nostra feris fluctibus agitatur, ot desi^umantibus undis pertuuditur. Sed speramus in spem contra si^em, et Dominum coUaudamus^ qui eniit te de potestate tenebrarum et in tanto principe providit Eeclesiae, qui possit eam tueri et contra occurrentes pestiferorum conatas ga- leam salutis induere. Perge igitur, dilecte et gloriose fili, ut Deas omnii)otens serenitatem tuam et regnum protectione coelesti prose- quatur, et angelis suis niandet, ut custodiant te in onmibus viis tuis, et det tibi in circuitu de inimicis suis victoriam!