| Summary: | <p>The framework of this study is formed by Innocent's letters. These, though presenting few personal traits and no biographical details, are yet sufficiently varied to enable the student to gauge from them the relationship of the church of Rome to the rest of Christendom and to assess Innocent's handling of the various crises with which he was confronted.</p>
<p>His first letter was addressed to Anysius of Thessalonica. The ties between Anysius and Rome were unusually close, since he had demonstrated in the past, as he was to do again under Innocent, that he was willing to look to Rome for guidance on all major matters. This willingness on Anysius' part led Innocent to develop the concept of the <i>papal vicariate</i> which he was able to impose, more or less successfully, on Rufus, Anysius' successor. It is a development which was to prove fruitful for Innocent's successors in other areas of the West.</p>
<p>In conformity with his policy of encouraging the Western churches to look upon Rome as the source of discipline and doctrine, Innocent was anxious to encourage the habit of consultation of Rome in cases of doubt or disagreement. He therefore replied fully to such enquiries and requested that his replies be given the widest circulation. His letters to Victricius of Rouen, to Exsuperius of Toulouse, to the Macedonian and Dacian bishops and to Decentius of Gubbio are thus most instructive as to current Roman practice in liturgy and church order. They are also found in a very large number of canon collections, which suggests that Innocent's aim was successful.</p>
<p>Continued in thesis ...</p>
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