Pope Gregory I

Lore & Background

Gregory was born c. His father Gordianus was a senator and prefect of Rome; his mother Silvia is honored as a saint. Gregory was well educated in grammar, rhetoric, sciences, literature, and law, and became prefect of Rome at age 33. After his father's death, he converted his family villa into a monastery dedicated to Andrew the Apostle and lived as a monk.

Reader's Guide

Gregory's significance lies in his administrative and missionary achievements during a period of upheaval. His papacy surpassed the emperors Maurice and Theodosius in improving the welfare of Rome's people. He regained papal authority in Spain and France and sent missionaries, including Augustine of Canterbury and Paulinus of York, to England. His realignment of barbarian allegiance from Arian Christianity to Rome shaped medieval Europe, as Franks, Lombards, and Visigoths aligned with Rome.

He combated the Donatist heresy in North Africa. His writings were more prolific than any previous pope, and his Dialogues earned him the epithet 'the Dialogist' in Eastern Christianity. He is known as 'the Father of Christian Worship' for revising Roman worship and is recognized as the de facto author of the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. He was canonized by popular acclaim immediately after his death and is one of three popes listed as 'the Great'.

Did You Know?

• Gregory was the second of three popes listed in the Annuario Pontificio with the title 'the Great', alongside Popes Leo I and Nicholas I.
• His great-great-grandfather was Pope Felix III.
• Gregory's mother and two paternal aunts are honored as saints by Catholic and Orthodox churches.