Saint Gregory I, Pope and Doctor of the Church

Saint Gregory the Great (c. 540–604 A.D.) was Pope, Doctor of the Church, and one of the most influential pontiffs in history. Born to a wealthy Roman senatorial family, Gregory served as Prefect of Rome before converting his mansion into a Benedictine monastery and embracing monastic life. Elected Pope in 590 A.D. during plague and barbarian invasion, Gregory governed the Church with extraordinary wisdom, codifying the Latin Liturgy, organizing Gregorian Chant, strengthening papal jurisdiction, and initiating the Anglo-Saxon mission by sending Saint Augustine of Canterbury to England. He was the first Pope to adopt the humility title "Servant of the Servants of God" (Servus Servorum Dei) and wrote Pastoral Care, an enduring spiritual manual for bishops and priests.