Pope Gregory III

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Roman Catholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
Other popes named Gregory

Pope Gregory III (

Syrian origin, the last non-European pope until the election of Pope Francis more than 1,271 years later in 2013.[2]

Election

Gregory was the son of a Syrian named John.

exarch of Ravenna. He was the last pope to seek the exarch's ratification of a papal election.[5]

Iconoclasm

Immediately upon his accession, Gregory appealed to

patriarch of Constantinople.[8] However, his attempt to force the duke of Naples to enforce an imperial decree to confiscate papal territory in the duchy failed, as the duke was supportive of the pope's stand.[9]

Gregory, in the meantime, demonstrated his opposition to iconoclasm by emphasising his veneration of icons and relics. He repaired or beautified numerous churches, which involved their decoration with icons and images of

Saints Sergius and Bacchus, near St. Peter's, endowing it for the support of the poor.[13]

Ecclesiastical policy

A temporary lull in the conflict between the

Egbert of York should be elevated to the rank of archbishop.[15]

Gregory promoted the Church in

papal vicar, ordering them to assemble in a council twice a year at Augsburg under Boniface's authority.[18] Gregory promoted the mission of Willibald in Germany.[19]

In 732, Gregory banned the consumption of

pagan ritual feasting.[16][20]

Lombard threat

The division of Italy between the Lombards and the Byzantines during Gregory III's pontificate

Conscious of the ongoing Lombard threat, Gregory undertook and completed the restoration of the

Thrasimund II of Spoleto the fortress of Gallese along the Via Flaminia, which had been taken by the Lombards, interrupting Rome's communications with the exarch at Ravenna.[21] The return of the Lombard king Liutprand
in 737 saw a renewal of the Lombard assault on the Exarchate of Ravenna.

Gregory's opposition to

Byzantine iconoclasm did not stop his lending support to the Byzantine Empire to help in the recapture of Ravenna after it had fallen to the Lombards in around 738.[22] In that same year,[23] Liutprand demanded that the Lombard dukes of Spoleto and Beneventum ravage the area around the Duchy of Rome; but both refused, citing a treaty with the pope.[24] Gregory then actively encouraged the rebellion of Thrasimund, forcing Liutprand to temporarily abandon his attacks on the exarchate, turning his attention towards Spoleto, which Liutprand annexed. Thrasimund was forced to flee Spoleto, seeking refuge in Rome, where he was welcomed by Gregory.[25]

By the middle of 739, Liutprand was encroaching once again on the Exarchate and threatening Rome. In desperation, Gregory sent ambassadors to

mayor of the Palace, begging him to intervene on the pope's behalf.[26] Although Gregory stated that he was willing to give up his allegiance to the Eastern Empire and place himself under the protection of the Franks, Charles made no promise to assist, since he was fully occupied by the Umayyad invasion of Gaul.[27][28] Gregory himself referred to these Saracen Muslims as gens ferocissima or "that most fierce nation".[29] The Lombard capture of the towns of Ameria, Ortas, Polimartium and Blera once again caused Gregory to write to Charles, this time in even greater tones of despair, beseeching his aid:[30]

Our affliction moves us to write to you once again, trusting that you are a loving son of St. Peter and of us, and that, from respect for him, you will come and defend the Church of God and His peculiar people, who are now unable to endure the persecution and oppression of the Lombards. They have seized the very means set aside to furnish funds for the lights ever kept burning at St. Peter's tomb, and they have carried off offerings that have been made by you and by those who have gone before you. And because, after God, we have turned to you, the Lombards deride and oppress us. Hence the Church of St. Peter has been stripped and reduced to the last straits. We have put into the mouth of the bearer of this letter, your faithful servant all our woes, which he will be able to unfold to you. Please come at once, to show your love towards St. Peter, and us, his own people.[31]

This time Charles Martel did send an embassy to Rome, and this implicit support, together with the beginnings of fever running through his troops, forced Liutprand to march back to Pavia by the end of August 739.[32] Taking advantage of this withdrawal, Gregory agreed to support Thrasimund II's return to Spoleto. Thrasimund II forced his way back in by December 739 with Roman armed support, but refused to hand over the four captured towns he had promised in exchange for papal support.[33] Learning that Charles Martel was sick, Liutprand once again returned to attacking the Exarchate in 740, forcing Gregory yet again to appeal to the Franks, who again refused to become involved.[34]

Death

Unsuccessful at stopping the Lombard advance, Gregory III died on 28 November 741.

feast day
is now celebrated on 10 December.

References

  1. .
  2. ^ "Brusher S.J., Joseph. "St. Gregory III", Popes Through the Ages".
  3. ^ "The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  4. ^ Mann, p. 204
  5. ^ Levillain, p. 643
  6. ^ Treadgold, p. 354; Mann, p. 205
  7. ^ Levillain, p. 644; Mann, p. 206
  8. ^ Duffy, p. 64; Mann, p. 207
  9. ^ Mann, p. 208
  10. ^ Mann, pp. 208–209
  11. ^ Duffy, p. 63; Mann, p. 210
  12. ^ Mann, p. 209
  13. ^ Mann, pp. 210–211
  14. ^ Mann, pp. 211–212
  15. ^ Mann, pp. 212–213
  16. ^ a b Mann, p. 214
  17. ^ Levillain, p. 644
  18. ^ Mann, pp. 214–215
  19. ^ Mershman, Francis. "Sts. Willibald and Winnebald." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 18 September 2017
  20. .
  21. ^ Mann, p. 216
  22. ^ Treadgold, p. 355; Duffy, p. 63
  23. ^ Mann, p. 221
  24. ^ Mann, pp. 216–217
  25. ^ Treadgold, p. 355; Mann, pp. 217–218
  26. ^ Duffy, p. 68
  27. .
  28. ^ Mann, pp. 218–219
  29. .
  30. ^ Mann, p. 219
  31. ^ Mann, pp. 219–220
  32. ^ Mann, p. 220
  33. ^ Levillain, p. 644; Mann, p. 222
  34. ^ Levillain; p. 644; Mann, pp. 221–222
  35. ^ Mann, p. 223
  36. ^ Mann, p. 224

Sources

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Pope
731–741
Succeeded by