Gregory I
A Roman aristocrat turned monk who became pope in 590. He left fourteen books of letters, the Pastoral Rule, the Dialogues and a commentary on Job, and he sent the mission that began the conversion of the English.
Gregory of Tours, a contemporary, says that Gregory belonged to one of the leading senatorial families of Rome, founded seven monasteries from his own wealth, and was a deacon when the people chose him as bishop during the plague of 590 (Gregory of Tours, Histories 10.1). Bede adds that he had been the pope’s representative at Constantinople, that he governed for thirteen and a half years and was buried at Saint Peter’s on 12 March, and he lists his writings (Bede, Ecclesiastical History 2.1).
On taking office he declared that he received the four councils as he did the four Gospels, and venerated the fifth (Gregory the Great, Letters 1.25). He refused the title “Universal Pope” (Gregory the Great, Letters 8.30). His Dialogues are the main early source for Benedict of Nursia (Gregory the Great, Dialogues 2, prologue). His government of the church and the mission to Kent are told under Gregory the Great and the Mission to the English.
In the timeline
- AD 590 to AD 604, firm dateGregory the Great and the Mission to the English
Gregory I, a monk made pope against his will, governs the Roman church from 590 to 604, writes the Pastoral Rule, refuses the title of universal bishop and sends the monk Augustine to convert the English of Kent.
Primary sources
Histories (History of the Franks)
- Gregory of Tours, Histories 10.1sourcebooks.fordham.edu
Register of Letters
- Gregory the Great, Letters 1.25newadvent.org
- Gregory the Great, Letters 8.30newadvent.org
Dialogues
- Gregory the Great, Dialogues 2, prologuetertullian.org