Letter 4051: I am writing to you jointly because the matter at hand falls within both your jurisdictions, and I want to ensure...

TO BISHOPS PETER AND PROVIDENTIUS. [Summary: He writes that he will give them satisfaction concerning the faith, and promises that no trouble will be inflicted upon them when they come to Rome.] Gregory to Peter and Providentius, bishops of Istria. May God, who rejoices in the unity of the faithful and reveals the truth to those who seek it, open to your heart, most beloved brothers, with how great a longing I desire that you be held within the bosom of the holy universal Church, and that you remain in concord within its unity. And I do not doubt that this will come to pass if, the goad of contention being cast aside, you attend to having yourselves truly satisfied concerning those matters about which there is doubt. Moreover, having been informed by the report of Castorius my notary upon his return, I have learned that your fraternity has a desire to come to me, if a promise should be given that you will suffer no trouble. Knowing this, I both wish it, and, kindled by the ardor of charity, I invite you to undertake the labor of coming to me, so that, conferring together as equals, we may both speak in common of those things which are true and pleasing to our Redeemer, and may hold to them in every way. But I, with the grace of divine protection lending its aid, [shall be able] to satisfy you concerning the things about which you doubt [...] in such a way that my satisfaction will so cling within you inwardly that nothing ambiguous can henceforth remain to your charity. For those things which the four most holy synods deemed and defined, just as our predecessor the most holy Pope Leo, so also do we deem, follow, and hold, nor do we in any way dissent from their faith. But because a person present gives more satisfaction than a letter, I exhort you, most beloved brothers, that you ought to come to me, as I have said before, provided only that, the matter having been grasped by reason, no dissension separate you from the concord of the holy universal Church. Yet let your charity be assured of this: that I both receive you with the affection that is fitting, and will release you with favor. Nor do I promise that you, or any others whatsoever who shall wish to come to me concerning this cause, will endure any affliction or trouble. But whether the divine mercy shall prick your heart to consent with me, or whether, which God forbid, it should happen that you persist in that dissension, we will take care to release you to return to your own homes whenever you wish, according to my promise, without injury or trouble. In the month of August, in the thirteenth indiction.

AD PETRUM ET PROVIDENTIUM EPISCOPOS., Scribit de fide eis 8atisſacturum 5e, promiltitque Romam venienlibus nullam molesliam illalui un. Gregorius Petro et * Providentio episcopis Istrizx. Deus, qui lztatur in unitate fidelium, et revelat gquzrentibus veritatem , cordi vesiro, dilectissimi fratres, aperiat quanto vos desiderio in gremio cu- piam sanctzze univer-alis Ecclesiz contineri, et in ejus manere unitate concordes. Quod fore non du- bito, $i, abjecto contentionis stimulo, satisfieri vobis veraciter de his quibus est duhietas intendatis. Re- meantis autem Castorii notarii mei relatione edo- ctus Sum ſraterai:atem vestram ad me h:bere desi- derium veniendi, si promissum fuerit quia nullam molestiam sustinebit, Hoc ego cognoscens ct opto, el 8uccensus ardore charitaiis invito, ut ad me ve- niendi debeatis laborem assumere, quatenus pariter conſerentes, quz vera et Redemptori nostro sunt placita, et communiter loquamur, et modis omnibus teneamus. J7Y9 Ego vero, divine proteciionis gra- tia suffragante, satisfacere vobis de quibus dubitatis Rhem., etc., cum in Editis legatur : Quia eos $0= lummodo invenio, quos ex ejusdem partiibus Codices, quos jam monasteriis dedi, excerpsi. (Quid intricatius et obscurius ? Eerisr. L [Af. 48]. — * In muliis et melioribus Codicibus omittitur de Regio. Vul.ani domus et Vulcania nomine tellus. Eeisr., Li | Al. 44]. — * Sic 2p; elatur hic episcopus in omnibus Vatic., Anglic., Norim., Tel- mentia quod ita vobis satisſactio mea interius inha- rebit, ut nihil charitati vesire de c#tero possit au- biguum remanere. Nam illa quz $anciis8ima qua- tuor synodi Sapuerunt atque delinierunt, Siculti prxdecessor noster sanclissimus Leo papa, ita et nos $apimus, Sequimur, ac tenemus, nec ab earum ide aliquo modo dissentimus. Sed quia plus persona presens quam epistola $alisſacit, hortor, dilelissimi ſraires, ut ad me venire, sicut przxſatus sum, debea- tis, dummodo ratione percepla a concordia Sancl® universalis Ecclesiz dissensio vos nulla dissociet. Hoc tamen certa sit vestra charitas, quia - vos -et cum afſectu quo decet suscipio, et cum gratia re- laxabo. Nec aliquam vos vel quoscunque alios, qui B pro hac ad me causa venire voluerint, afflictionem vel molesliam sustinere > promitto. Sed seu ad con- Sentienduin mihi cor vesirum misericordia divina compunxerit, s:ve, quod absit, in ea vos durare dis- sensione contigerit, ad propria vos remeare quando volueritis, juxta promissionem meam Sine legsione vel molestia relaxare curabimus, © Mense Augusto, indictione 13. (Cf. Joan. Diac. |. , n, 37.)