Quote from Letter 9.81 to Fortunatus, bishop of Naples. December 598
(And) your Charity will quickly go to the aforesaid church [of Misenum], and continually encourage the clerics and congregation of that church to put aside any partiality and agree to appoint a priest to be placed in charge of them, someone found worthy of so great a ministry, who would for no reason be rejected by the venerable canons.
We advise your Fraternity also not to allow any one to be chosen [as bishop] from another church, unless perhaps it might be impossible for anyone to be found worthy of the bishopric among the clergy of that city [of Misenum], in which you are carrying out the office of visitor.
Not that we think that this is likely. Check before all things that lay people do not presume to aspire to the honor of any sort of religious life, and that you do not incur danger to your order, Heaven forbid!
(And) your Charity will quickly go to the aforesaid church [of Misenum], and continually encourage the clerics and congregation of that church to put aside any partiality and agree to appoint a priest to be placed in charge of them, someone found worthy of so great a ministry, who would for no reason be rejected by the venerable canons.
We advise your Fraternity also not to allow any one to be chosen [as bishop] from another church, unless perhaps it might be impossible for anyone to be found worthy of the bishopric among the clergy of that city [of Misenum], in which you are carrying out the office of visitor.
Not that we think that this is likely. Check before all things that lay people do not presume to aspire to the honor of any sort of religious life, and that you do not incur danger to your order, Heaven forbid!
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 593
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