Letter 16

From: Ennodius, Bishop of Pavia To: Pope Symmachus Date: ~515 AD Context: Ennodius writes about a diplomatic mission he has undertaken on behalf of the pope. Ennodius to the most holy Pope Symmachus. I want to report on the mission you entrusted to me, which I have now completed and which had, I think, a reasonable outcome given the circumstances. The negotiation with the Ostrogothic court about the property dispute was resolved in the church's favor, though not without significant effort on my part. Theoderic's minister — a capable man, whatever else one might say about him — was initially resistant to the church's position, which he characterized as an attempt to use ancient documents to claim property that had been in other hands for a generation. My response was to focus not on the documents but on the present pastoral use of the property: that the church's claim was not historical but was grounded in the current spiritual needs of the population that the property is meant to serve. This argument proved more effective than the legal one. I will provide a fuller account when I see you in person, which I hope will be before the end of the summer. Your servant in all things, Ennodius

Ennodii ad Symmachum papam. >2. Victo sckismate pontifici se recotnmendat. Eunodius papae. Coelestis utilitatem sequacium cura disponit^ inauspicata bene de Deo merentibus dona tribuuntur. Ingerit supema dispensatio etiam quod supplicare humanitas non praesumit. Agnoverunt ad- versarii sedis vestrae, quo propugnante vincantur; quod proxime de Aquilejensi*) Redemptor noster persona reseravit.* . Et ideo inter excellentia mimerum divinorum peto, ut mei corona vestra memi- nisse non abnuat. Invitat euim ad famulandum plurimos, qui quam- vis longe positum diligit obsequentem. Vale.