St. Gregory the Great

Pope and Doctor of the Church

(540 - 604 A.D.)

Gregory came from an aristocratic family that had provided two previous popes to the church. After an excellent education, he embarked on a career in civil service, and at the age of thirty became a prefect (or mayor) of the city of Rome. Gregory’s gifted administration helped to restore the great buildings that had been ruined by the sacking of Rome four times within a century. At the age of thirty-five, he resigned his office and turned his family home into a Benedictine monastery; he became a monk there. He also founded six other monasteries. Next, he was sent to Constantinople as papal ambassador.

In 590, Pope Pelagius II died and Gregory was chosen as his successor. His fondest wish had been to return to the monastery. It was a heavy sacrifice for him to accept the call to the papacy. With the civil administration of Rome in a state of collapse, Gregory assumed de facto authority over Rome and most of Italy. He was in large part responsible for meeting the challenges of war, famine and plague. He promoted plainsong choral music which is named after him (Gregorian Chant). Of great importance was his sending 40 monks from Rome with St. Augustine to England. His aim was the conversion of England to Christianity and the development of monasticism in Western Europe.

What Gregory achieved in his fourteen years as pope makes him one of the most influential persons in world history. The Church bestowed upon him the honorific title of “Magnus” – the Great – and referred to him as an “incomparable man.”