Letter 46: To the most noble lord Pope Stephen, exalted and beloved above all pontiffs, endowed with the privilege of the...

[Context: On the death of Pope Zacharias a certain Stephen was elected (23 March 752) but died three days later before his consecration could take place. Early writers did not include him in the fist of Popes and this has caused confusion in the numbering of the Popes Stephen. Tbe Pope who is addressed here is Stephen III, consecrated 26 March or 3 April 752, died 26 April 757.] To the most noble lord Pope Stephen, exalted and beloved above all pontiffs, endowed with the privilege of the apostolate, Boniface, a humble bishop and disciple of the Roman Church, sends affectionate greeting of love in Christ. I pray for Your Holiness from the depths of my heart that I may be worthy to claim and possess that intimate union with the Apostolic See under your gentle sway and to remain your faithfid and devoted servant and disciple in the same way as I have already served the Apostolic See under three of your predecessors, the two Gregones and Zacharias, of venerable memory, who always helped me and strengthened me with their letters of exhortation and with their authority. I pray Your Grace so to act that I may still. more efficiently carry out and fulfil your fatherly intentions. For if I have accomplished anything of value in this Roman mission, in which I have been engaged now these six-and-thirty years, I desire to increase and fulfil it. Or if it be found that I have said or done anything wrong or unwise I pledge myself to correct it humbly and willingly and at once according to the judgment of the Roman Church. Meanwhile I beg my gracious lord not to be offended by my tardiness in sending letters and a personal message to you. This delay was owing to my great preoccupation with the restoration of the churches burned by the heathen within our parishes and cloisters. They have pillaged and burned more than thirty churches. It was this, not careless negligence, which delayed my letters and address to Your Paternity.

On the death of Pope Zacharias a certain Stephen was elected (23 March 752) but died three days later before his consecration could take place. Early writers did not include him in the fist of Popes and this has caused confusion in the numbering of the Popes Stephen. Tbe Pope who is addressed here is Stephen III, consecrated 26 March or 3 April 752, died 26 April 757. To the most noble lord Pope Stephen, exalted and beloved above all pontiffs, endowed with the privilege of the apostolate, Boniface, a humble bishop and disciple of the Roman Church, sends affectionate greeting of love in Christ. I pray for Your Holiness from the depths of my heart that I may be worthy to claim and possess that intimate union with the Apostolic See under your gentle sway and to remain your faithfid and devoted servant and disciple in the same way as I have already served the Apostolic See under three of your predecessors, the two Gregones and Zacharias, of venerable memory, who always helped me and strengthened me with their letters of exhortation and with their authority. I pray Your Grace so to act that I may still. more efficiently carry out and fulfil your fatherly intentions. For if I have accomplished anything of value in this Roman mission, in which I have been engaged now these six-and-thirty years, I desire to increase and fulfil it. Or if it be found that I have said or done anything wrong or unwise I pledge myself to correct it humbly and willingly and at once according to the judgment of the Roman Church. Meanwhile I beg my gracious lord not to be offended by my tardiness in sending letters and a personal message to you. This delay was owing to my great preoccupation with the restoration of the churches burned by the heathen within our parishes and cloisters. They have pillaged and burned more than thirty churches. It was this, not careless negligence, which delayed my letters and address to Your Paternity.