Epistola II Ad Eulalium Alexandrinum Episcopum

Epistle II (formerly I) of Pope Boniface II to Eulalius, Bishop of Alexandria. Concerning the reconciliation of the Church of Carthage. Boniface, bishop, to his fellow bishop Eulalius, greetings. From the very beginning we have received such great confidence from the blessed Peter, the prince of the apostles, that we have the authority to come to the aid of the universal Church (with the Lord’s help), and to correct and amend whatever is harmful by apostolic authority. For the provision of divine arrangement (dispensation) has established that diverse grades and orders be distinct, so that while lesser persons show reverence to greater ones, and greater persons show love to lesser ones, a single fabric of concord might be woven from this diversity, and the right administration of each office might be generated (carried out). For the whole cannot subsist in any other way, unless such a great order of difference preserves it. But because no creature can be governed or live in one and the same equality, the examples of the heavenly hosts instruct us (the example instructs us): for while there are angels, there are archangels, it is clear that they are not equal, but in power and order (as in our own) one differs from another. If, therefore, even among those who are without sin this distinction is established, what man would refuse willingly to submit himself to their arrangement?

For from this, peace and mutual charity embrace each other, and firm concord remains, along with sincerity in mutual and God-pleasing love. Therefore, because every office is then salubriously fulfilled when there is one prelate to whom recourse may be had, we do not wish our desires to be hidden from your charity, lest one who was a partner in concern be rendered an exile from the fruit of joys. And so we signify that the Church of Carthage has returned to our communion (with the Lord propitious), by means of the letters we transmitted, and that the series of mandates which we gave to our legates was in all things fulfilled. Concerning which part, so that complete joy might more fully reach your love, we have deemed it necessary to send copies of the libellus of Eulalius, our brother and fellow priest, the bishop of Carthage, and of the sacred letters of Justinian, the most clement prince of the East, likewise indicating that throughout the regions of the East very many bishops have done likewise. It remains that the Divinity, entreated by our contending prayers, grant that we may also rejoice concerning the reintegration of other churches. Moreover, you will take care to convey to the notice of those priests who are near to your fraternity those things which we have taken care to signify, so that they too may not cease to give thanks with us for the benefit of celestial mercy concerning the import of such a matter.

Aurelius, once bishop of the aforementioned Church of Carthage, together with his colleagues (at the instigation of the devil) began to act arrogantly against the Roman Church in the times of our predecessors Boniface and Coelestine. But seeing himself, in the manner of the sins of Aurelius, Eulalius, separated from the communion of the Roman Church, humbly acknowledged that he had sinned, sought peace and communion with the Roman Church, and, subscribing together with his colleagues, condemned by apostolic authority all writings which were made against the privileges of the Roman Church by any means whatsoever.