The Way Of The Fathers

Letter 4,7 - to Gennadius, patrician and exarch of Africa. September 593

"And so we impose on you the correction of ecclesiastical cases all the more gladly, as we trust in the pious intent of your mind. For your Excellency should know that news has been brought to us by men coming from parts of Africa, that in the council of Numidia, many things are being committed contrary to the way of the Fathers and the statues of the canons.
And because we could no longer tolerate at all the frequent complaints over these matters, we have committed their investigation to Columbus, our brother and fellow-bishop. His reputation is well known and does not allow us to have any further doubts about his gravity.
For this reason, we greet you with fatherly affection, and ask your Excellency to lend him the strength of your assistance, in all matters that concern Church discipline."

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 291.