Quote from Letter 6,62 to Gennasius, patriarch of Africa. August 596
Since, therefore, we are dealing not with earhly matters but with the salvation of souls, and since your asseertion and his [Paul, a bishop] are different, we have been unable to give any detailed reply, not having examined the truth, because at the time when we received the letter of your Excellency, we were suffering from bodily sickness. But when almighty God restores us (if it should please him) to our former health, we shall investigate the truth as best we can with faithful inquiry. And in accordance with what we can discover, we shall so settle the case, with God's mercy, that not only may the salvation of souls lost by those in error (and you deign to show interest in theire case, in return dor a reward for you) be restored again, but also may the possessions of the worshippers of the true faith be preserved, protected by the grace of our Redeemer.
Since, therefore, we are dealing not with earhly matters but with the salvation of souls, and since your asseertion and his [Paul, a bishop] are different, we have been unable to give any detailed reply, not having examined the truth, because at the time when we received the letter of your Excellency, we were suffering from bodily sickness. But when almighty God restores us (if it should please him) to our former health, we shall investigate the truth as best we can with faithful inquiry. And in accordance with what we can discover, we shall so settle the case, with God's mercy, that not only may the salvation of souls lost by those in error (and you deign to show interest in theire case, in return dor a reward for you) be restored again, but also may the possessions of the worshippers of the true faith be preserved, protected by the grace of our Redeemer.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II,
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