The notable characteristic of his rule was a sanctifying of intellectual labour.

In abandoning the world, he by no means renounced his interest in its civilization.

Statesmanship having failed to stem the tide of Oriental tyranny and northern barbarism, he set himself to save as much as possible of the nobler part, to secure for happier ages the record of human attainment.

Great was the importance he attached to the work of his Antiquarii--copyists who laboured to preserve the manuscript literature which was in danger of utterly perishing.

With special reference to their work upon the Scriptures, he tells them that they "fight against the wiles of Satan with pen and ink." And again: "Writing with three fingers, they thus symbolize the virtues of the Holy Trinity; using a reed, they thus attack the craft of the Devil with that very instrument which smote the Lord's head in his Passion." But all literature was his care.