Title XXIX: On a Cleric Promoted by a Leap

Latin source headnote: One who in ignorance is made a priest by a leap from subdeacon, after penance is ordained deacon, and afterward a dispensation can be granted to him in the priesthood.

Innocent III, to the Bishop of Bologna.

Your letters presented to us contained that, as you had learned from the report of certain good men, the priest P., the bearer of the present letters, having omitted the order of the diaconate, caused himself to be promoted to the order of the priesthood; and when you had inquired more diligently from him concerning the truth of this, he also secretly and humbly confessed to you that he did not know for certain whether the matter so occurred, but, since good men among whom he had lived asserted this, he believed their assertion, because he himself, at the time when he received the lower orders, was below the years of discretion. You therefore, sending him to the Apostolic See, humbly petitioned us that we deign to act mercifully with him. We, therefore, grieving with his misery, by apostolic writings Command your fraternity that you impose upon him a fitting penance for negligence of this kind. When it has been completed, because that which is not known to have been done is not understood to be repeated, you are to take care to ordain him deacon, and thus by mercy permit him to minister in the order of priest. [Given at Rome at Saint Peter's on the twelfth day before the Kalends of February, 1205.]