Pope Gregory VII, Muslims & God

EPISTOLA XXI. AD ANZIR REGEM MAUBITANIA.

(Anno 1076.)

Scribit se Servandum episcopum juxta ejus petitionem consecrasse. Gratias agit de muneribus missis, et de captivis Christianis dimissis. Commendat quosdam ab Alberico et Cincio Romanis ad eum missos.

GREGORBIUS episcopus, servus servorum Dei ANZIR [ΑΝ ΑΖΙᾺ] regi Mauritanie Sitiphensis provincie in Africa, salutem et apostolicam benedictionem.

Nobilitas tua hoc in anno litteras suas nobis misit quatenus Servandum presbyterum episcopum, secundum Christianam constitutionem, ordinaremus; quod, quia petitio tua justa et optima videbatur, facere studuimus.

Missis etiam ad nos muneribus, Christianos, qui apud vos captivi tenebantur, reverentia beati Petri principis apostolorum, et amore nostro dimisisti, alios quoque captivos te dimissurum promisisti.

Hanc denique bonitatem Creator omnium Deus, sine quo nihil boni facere, imo nec cogitare possumus, cordi tuo inspiravit; ipse qui illuminat omnem hominem venientem in hune mun dum (Joan. 1) in hac intentione mentem tuam illuminavit.

Nam omnipotens Deus, qui omnes homines vult salvos facere, et neminem perire (I Tim. 11), nihil est qued in nobis magis approbet quam ut homo post dilectionem suam hominem diligat, et quod sibi non vult fieri, alii non faciat (Matth. v11).

Hanc itaque charitatem nos et vos specialibus nobis quam cæteris gentibus debemus, qui unum Deum, licet diverso modo, credimus et confitemur, qui eum Creatorem sæculorum et gubernatorem hujus mundi quotidie laudamus et veneramur.

Nam sicut Αроstolus dicit : Ipse est pax nostra qui fecit utraque unum (Ephes. 11).

Sed hanc tibi gratiam a Deo concessam plures nobilium Romanorum per nos cognoscentes, bonitatem et virtutes tuas omnino admirantur et prædicant.

Inter quos duo familiares nostri Albericus et Cincius, et ab ipsa pene adolescentia în A Romano palatio nobiscum enutriti, multum desiderantes in amicitiam et amorem tuum devenire, et de his quæ inı patribus nostris placuerit tibi libenter servire, mittunt ad te homines suos, ut per eos intelligas quantum te prudentem et nobilem habeant, et quantum tibi libenter servire velint et valeant.

Quos magnificentiæ tuæ commendantes rogamus, ut eam charitatem, quam tibi tuisque omnibus semper impendere desideramus, eis pro amore nostro et recompensatione fidelitatis prædictorum virorum impendere studeas.

Scit enim Deus quia pure ad honorem Dei te diligimus, et salutem et honorem tuum in præsenti et in futura vita desideramus.

Atque ut ipse Deus in sinum beatitudinis sanctissimi patriarchæ Abrahæ post longa hujus vitæ spatia te B perducat corde et ore rogamus.

Gregory, bishop, servant of the servants of God, to Anzir, king of the province of Mauretania Sitifensis in Africa, health and apostolic blessing.

Your highness sent to us within a year a request that we would ordain the priest Servandus as bishop according to the Christian order. This we have taken pains to do, as your request seemed proper and of good promise.

You also sent gifts to us, released some Christian captives out of regard for St. Peter, chief of the apostles, and affection for us, and promised to release others. This good action was inspired in your heart by God, the creator of all things, without whom we can neither do nor think any good thing.

He who enlightens every man that comes into the world enlightened your mind in this purpose. For Almighty God, who desires that all men shall be saved and that none shall perish, approves nothing more highly in us than this: that a man love his fellow man next to his God and do nothing to him which he would not that others should do to himself.

Therefore, we and you owe this love to each other in a more special manner than to other nations, because we believe and confess one God, although in different ways, who call him the Creator of the ages and the Governor of this world. For, in the words of the Apostle, “He is our peace who has made both one” (Eph. 2).

This grace granted to you by God is admired and praised by many of the Roman nobility who have learned from us of your benevolence and high qualities. Two of these, Alberic and Cencius, intimate friends of ours brought up with us from early youth at the Roman court, earnestly desiring to enjoy your friendship and to serve your interests here, are sending their messengers to you to let you know how highly they regard your prudence and high character and how greatly they desire and are able to be of service to you.

In recommending these messengers to your highness, we beg you to show them, out of regard for us and in return for the loyalty of the men aforesaid, the same respect which we desire always to show toward you and all who belong to you. For God knows our true regard for you to his glory and how truly we desire your prosperity and honor, both in this life and in the life to come, and how earnestly we pray both with our lips and with our heart that God himself, after the long journey of this life, may lead you into the bosom of the most holy patriarch Abraham.