To our beloved brother Sallustius, from Hormisdas.

Receiving with joyful gratitude the full communication of your brotherhood, which has delighted us with the double assurance of your well-being (for it has been reported that you are in good health, both bodily and spiritually), we have considered it fitting to express the same joy we hold in our hearts. You have provided the example of a good bishop, both by performing deeds that are praiseworthy and not hesitating to promote them.

We have recognized a special privilege in your selection by our judgment, seeing that you willingly embraced what we command to others. Indeed, we pray to the divine mercy, and we have sent these instruments for the work of ecclesiastical peace. You have understood our wishes with faithful discernment and promptly fulfilled them with devoted service, making known to all the brethren what you have recognized by heavenly grace to be beneficial for all.

Therefore, given all the merits of your pious diligence and labor, we are pleased to assign you responsibilities pertaining to our office, so that you may represent our person in provinces so distant and uphold the rules of the Fathers. Thus, by the present authority, we commit to you our duties over the provinces of Baetica and Lusitania, reserving the privileges decreed by antiquity for the metropolitan bishops. We enhance your dignity by sharing in this ministry and relieve our vigilance in this dispensation through your service.

And although you do not need instruction on individual matters, as we have already proven you carefully observe everything, it is always more pleasant to see the path shown again and the tasks assigned previously confirmed. Therefore, we command you to uphold the rules of the Fathers and the decrees defined by the holy councils. We extend the vigilance of your duty and the care of fraternal admonition in these things. When these are preserved with the reverence due to them, there is no room left for blame or any obstacle to holy observance.

There is prescribed therein what is right and wrong, what no one should aspire to, and what a mind that seeks to please God should presume to undertake. Whenever the cause of universal religion demands, let all the brethren convene at your call for a council; and if any are engaged in specific disputes, resolve the quarrels that arise among them, settling disputes in accordance with the sacred laws.

Whatever you command them for the sake of faith and ancient statutes, or by prudent arrangement, or establish by the authority of our person, let everything reach our knowledge through an informative report so that our spirit may rejoice in the love of the duty given, and yours in the security of the duty received.

May God keep you safe, dearest brother.