The Ben. note
appositely points out that any astonishment, such as expressed by
Tillemont, at the consecration of a neophyte, is quite out of place,
in view of the exigencies of the times and the practice of
postponing baptism. St. Ambrose at Milan and Nectarius at
Constantinople were not even “neophytes,” but were
actually unbaptized at the time of their appointment to their
respective sees. “If there is any one among the lately
baptized,” argues the Ben. note, is tantamount to saying
“If there is any one fit to be bishop.”