Gregory I

Pope Gregory I (Latin: Gregorius I; Gregorio I; c. 540 – 12 March 604), commonly known as Saint Gregory the Great (Latin: Sanctus Gregorius Magnus; Italian: San Gregorio Magno), was the 64th Bishop of Rome from 3 September 590 until his death on 12 March 604.

Gregory was originally from Rome, a Roman senator's son, and himself the prefect of Rome at 30. He lived in a monastery that he established on his family estate before becoming a papal ambassador and then pope. During his papacy, his administration greatly surpassed that of the emperors Maurice and Theodosius in improving the welfare of the people of Rome. Gregory regained papal authority in Spain and France and sent missionaries to England, including Augustine of Canterbury and Paulinus of York. Gregory saw Franks, Lombards, and Visigoths align with Rome in religion from their Arian Christian alliances. The realignment of barbarian allegiance to Rome shaped medieval Europe. He also combated the Donatist heresy, popular particularly in North Africa at the time.

Gregory is also well known for his writings, which were more prolific than those of any of the previous popes. The epithet Saint Gregory the Dialogist has been attached to him in Eastern Christianity because of his Dialogues. Throughout the Middle Ages, he was known as "the Father of Christian Worship" because of his exceptional efforts in revising the Roman worship of his day. His contributions to the development of the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, still in use in the Byzantine Rite, were so significant that he is generally recognized as its de facto author.

Gregory is honored, along with Augustine, Jerome and Ambrose, as one of the four Great Latin Church Fathers. Immediately after his death, Gregory was canonized by popular acclaim. He is the second of the three Popes listed in the Annuario Pontificio with the title "the Great", alongside Popes Leo I and Nicholas I.