Translation from Patrologia Latina, Vol. 146
Epistle CI: To All the Bishops of Spain
Circa 1061-1073
Source: Mansi, Concilia XIX, 964
ALEXANDER papa, omnibus episcopis Hispanis. Placuit nobis sermo quem nuper de vobis audivimus, quomodo tutati estis Judaeos qui inter vos habitant, ne interimerentur ab illis qui contra Sarracenos in Hispaniam proficiscebantur. Illi quippe stulta ignorantia, vel forte ceca cupiditate commoti, in eorum necem volebant saevire, quos fortasse divinus Gregorius quosdam qui ad eos delendos exardescebant prohibuit, impium esse denuntians eos delere velle, qui Dei misericordia servati sunt, ut, patria libertateque amissa, diuturna paenitentia, patrum prejudicio in effusione sanguinis Salvatoris damnati, per terrarum orbis plagas dispersi vivant. (Can. 11, 23, 4, 8). Dispar nimirum est Judeorum et Sarracenorum causa. In illos enim, qui Christianos persequuntur et ex urbibus et propriis sedibus pellunt, juste pugnatur; hi vero ubique parati sunt servire. Quemdam etiam episcopum synagogam eorum destruere volentem prohibuit.
ALEXANDER, pope, to all the bishops of Spain. We were pleased by the report which we recently heard concerning you—how you protected the Jews who dwell among you, lest they be killed by those who were setting out against the Saracens in Spain. For those men, moved by foolish ignorance or perhaps by blind greed, wished to rage against their destruction—those whom the blessed Gregory forbade certain persons who were burning to destroy them, declaring it to be impious to wish to destroy those who have been preserved by God’s mercy, so that, having lost their homeland and liberty, condemned by a long penance for the prejudice of their fathers in the shedding of the Savior’s blood, they might live dispersed throughout the regions of the earth. (Canon 11, 23, 4, 8). For certainly the case of the Jews and the Saracens is different. Against those [Saracens] who persecute Christians and drive them from their cities and proper dwellings, war is justly waged; but these [Jews] are everywhere prepared to serve. He also forbade a certain bishop who wished to destroy their synagogue.
Epistle CII: To Berengarius, Viscount of Narbonne
Fragment, circa 1061-1073
Source: Mansi, Concilia XIX, 980
Noverit prudentia vestra nobis placuisse quod Judeos qui sub vestra potestate habitant tutati estis ne occiderentur. Non enim gaudet Deus effusione sanguinis, neque letatur in perditione malorum.
Let your prudence know that it has pleased us that you have protected the Jews who dwell under your authority from being killed. For God does not rejoice in the shedding of blood, nor does He delight in the destruction of the wicked.
Epistle CIII: To Wifred, Archbishop of Narbonne
Fragment, circa 1061-1073
Source: Mansi, Concilia XIX, 980
Noverit prudentia vestra quod omnes leges, tam ecclesiasticae quam seculares, effusionem humani sanguinis prohibent.
Let your prudence know that all laws, both ecclesiastical and secular, prohibit the shedding of human blood.
Source. Patrologiae Latina – Patrologiae Cursus Completus, Series Latina, ed. J.-P. Migne, Tomus CXLVI (Paris: Garnier Fratres, 1884), cols. 1387-1388.