Gregory the Great (540-604)

Importance

•          Gregory is the Pope whose papacy is generally considered the beginning of the medieval period

•          Is ranked with Ambrose, Jerome, and Augustine as one of the four great leaders of the Latin church

•          He increased the authority and power of the papacy

•          Believed the Roman pope was Peter’s sole successor and was the supreme head over the universal church

•          Asserted political authority for the papacy

•          Had a deep pastoral and evangelistic concern