Letter 9021: Romano has just arrived in Sicily to manage the church's patrimony in the Syracuse area.

TO LIBERTINUS, FORMER PREFECT. That he may assist the new Roman defender with his counsels. Gregory to Libertinus, former prefect. Your Glory's devotion, both tested and known to us, prompts us to present you, through this letter's address, as a helper in ecclesiastical affairs. And therefore, since we have entrusted to the Roman defender, the bearer of this present letter, by God's authorship, the care of the patrimony of our Church which is situated in the territory of Syracuse and of Catania, we, greeting Your Glory, ask that you ought to come to his aid and bring him comfort in all things. And lest perchance, on account of his newness, he should grasp somewhat less those things which are useful, instruct him subtly with your counsels, and lend him your effort, as you are accustomed, toward the carrying out of these matters; so that, when with your help he has usefully accomplished the things enjoined upon him, both you may be able to receive a reward for your good service, and we may be more earnestly invited to entreat the mercy of Almighty God for the life of Your Glory. But concerning the chapter [item of business] of which the bearer of this present letter has spoken to me, or about which our most reverend brother Bishop John has written, nothing could meanwhile either be attempted or transacted, because the person before whom it could have been transacted has not yet been confirmed in any authority. [Editorial note: This letter, in the immediately following ones, is even omitted in very many manuscripts; otherwise, Gregory's style sufficiently shows them to be his; but they were perhaps left out by the copyists because they were written on nearly the same subject. The praised Vatican Codex A, the San Vittore, and the Remigius codex display them. Epistle XXI (alias 20). Libertinus was praetor of Sicily in the [year] 594, from epistle 32 of book IV, Indiction 13. Epistle XXII (alias 24). Formerly it was read faultily in the printed editions as "Libertino Ciridano." We have struck out the first name, on the advice of the Vatican Manuscript A.] EPISTLE XXII (alias 24). TO CIRIDANUS. That he may show favor to the Roman defender. Gregory to Ciridanus. The goodness of Your Glory, spread abroad by truthful report, affords us such great certainty concerning itself that we ought in no way to distrust it, but rather, as to a truly wise son of our Church, to commend the matter to you especially. And therefore we have sent, God protecting, our Roman defender, the bearer of this present letter, for the governance of the patrimony of our Church established in the regions of Catania and Syracuse. Greeting therefore Your Glory with fatherly affection, we ask that in all things he may find the affection of your charity, and may obtain the comforts of your favor wherever it shall be necessary, so that, with you present, he may not feel us to be absent; in order that, when with your help he has wholesomely fulfilled the things enjoined upon him, both we may be able to stand as debtors of thanks to you, and blessed Peter, prince of the apostles, in whose affairs you expend yourselves, may here and in the future repay you. EPISTLE XXIII. TO JOHN, BISHOP OF SYRACUSE. That the causes of Leontius against Bishop Leo and the physician Archelaus have been committed to the Roman defender. Gregory to John, bishop of Syracuse. Our son, the glorious man Leontius, former consul, has gravely complained about our brother and fellow-bishop Leo, and his complaint has altogether disturbed us, because the matter ought not to have been handled by a bishop so precipitately and lightly. This cause, to be examined subtly, we have committed to the Roman defender who is coming. But concerning your Fraternity, he who has been sent by him complains that, through the defense of Archelaus, a most distinguished man and physician, the interest of our brother and fellow-bishop Domitian, the metropolitan, is burdened. And indeed your Fraternity ought to protect your sons justly, or, as the case is, perhaps the affairs of holy Church, and to give no occasion to adversaries for the sake of speaking evil. Yet that you observe this in all things, even by speaking thus, I do not doubt; nevertheless we have enjoined upon the same Roman defender who is coming that, concerning this cause also, he ought to arrange with you the things that are right. [Editorial note, continued from earlier apparatus: ... which ought without doubt to claim for itself, and ... to ...]

AD LIBERTINUM EXPREFECTUM. Novum deſensorem Romanum consiliis juvet. Gregorius ® Libertino exprxſecto, Glorie vesire et experta et cognila nos devotio provocat, epistolari vos alloquio causis ecclesiaslicis exhihere adjutores. Et jdeo quia Romano deſensori presentium poriitori curam patrimonii Ecclesiz no- ${re, quod in Syracusauo alque Catinensi territorio Silum est, Deo auctore commisimus, $alulantes glo- riam vestram, pelimus ut concurrere illi ac ferre s0latium in omnibus debeatis. Et ne ſorsan de novitate minus aliqua que $Sunt ulilia comprehendat, vestris eum $ubliliter consiliis informate, atque ad agenda hec veslram ill, sicut consuevistis, operam adhibete, C quatevus dum vobis opitulantibus utiliter quz ei inzuncla $unt peregerit, et vos de bono vestro merce- dem recipere valealis, et nos pro gloria vestre vita omnipotentis Dei misericordiam exorare enixius invi- leur. De capitulo autem de quo mihi lator prasentium est locutus, vel reverendissimus ſrater noster Joannes episcopus 5cripsit, interim vel tentari vel agi nil potuit, quia persona apud quam agi poterat, necdum esl in poteslatc aliqua conlirmala. EPISTOLA XMXitl. AD CIRIDANUM. Romano deſensori ſaveat. Gregorius © Ciridano. Gloriz vesirx bonilas nuntio veraci diſſusa tlan- tam nobis de se certitudinem prebet, ut in nullo de ea diſfidere, ed magis sicut revera 8apienti (ili Ecclesiz nostire debeamus specialiter causam commendare. Et ideo Rom»num defensorem nostrum JAG pre>entium portitorem ad gubernationem patrimonii Ecclesiaz nos- aliis immediate sequentibus in plerisque Mss. etiam omissa est ; alioquin eas esse Gregorii stylus $alis ostendit; verum ab amannensibus forte fuerunt pric- termiss:? qua de eodem fere argumento script:;t $unt; eas exhibent laudatus Codex Vatic, A, San Victorizus et Remig. : EerisT, XXI [A/. 20]. — * Libertinus Siciliz pr- lor eral an 5 4, ex epist. 32 hb. yv, Indict. 13. Eer>T. XXII [Al. 24] .—* Vitiose prius legebatur in Excu<is Libertino Ciridano. Primum nomen cx+- punximus, Suadente Ms, Vatic. A, ire in Catanensibus vel Syracusanis partibus consti- A es, Sibi deberet sine dulio vindicare, et ipsa ad per- uti, Deo protegente transmisimus. Salutantes igitur paterna dilectione gloriam vestram, pelimus ut in cunclis aſſectum vestrz charilatis iavenial, et ſavoris - veslri 80laliis quocunque necesse fuerit potialur, ut vobis presentibus nos absentes esse non Sentiat, qua- lenus cum injunclta $ibi salubriter vestra ope expleve- Fil, et nos yobis gratiarum possimus existeredebitores, et beatus Petrus apostolorum princeps, in cujus causis vos impeundilis, hic vobis et in ſuluro compeuset. EPISTOL \ XXIIL AD JOANNEM SYRACUSANUM EPISCOPUM. Commigsas Romano deſensori causas Leoniii adversus Leonem episcopum, et Archelaum medicum. Gregorijus Joanni episcopo Syracusano. Filius nosler gloriosus vir Leontius exconsule de ſraire el coepiscopo nostro Leone graviler est questus nosque ejus querela omnimodo turbavit, quia ita pre- cipitanter et leviter abepigcopo agi non debuit. Quam causam Subliliter ex$equendam venienti Romano de- ſensori commisimus. De vesira autem fraternitate qui ab eo direcius est queritur, quod * Archelai viri claris- simi medici defensione frairis et coepi>copi nos(ri Þ Domitiaui metropolitz ulilitas gravetur. Et quidem tweri jusle filios $uos, vel, sicut est, ſorte sanclz Eeclesie negolia, ſraternitas vesira debet, et nullam oceasionem dare ad versariis maledicli gratia. Quod tamen vos per omnia cuslodire etiam isla loquendo hou awmbigo; eidem tamen Romano venienti eliam de hac causa injunximus, ut vobiscum debeat quz $unl recla disponere.