The work of Gregory lay principally in two directions. As
a statesman he did much to make the popes virtual sovereigns at Rome and in
Italy. At this time the Italian peninsula, overrun by the Lombards and
neglected by the eastern emperor, was in a deplorable condition. The bishop of
Rome seemed to be the only man who could protect the people and maintain order.
Gregory had very great success in this task. He appointed governors of cities,
issued orders to generals, drilled the Romans for military defense, and sent
ambassadors to treat with the king of the Lombards. It was largely owing to
Gregory's efforts that these barbarians were prevented from conquering central
Italy.
GREGORY'S SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY
Gregory was no less eminent as a churchman. His writings
and his personal influence greatly furthered the advancement of the Roman
Church in the West. We find him sternly repressing heresies wherever they
arose, aiding the conversion of Arian Visigoths in Spain and Arian Lombards in
Italy, and sending out monks as missionaries to distant Britain. He well
deserved by these labors the title "Servant of the servants of God,"
[16] which he assumed, and which the popes after him have retained. The
admiration felt for his character and abilities raised him, in later ages, to
the rank of a saint.
[16] Servus servorum Dei.
POSITION OF THE PAPACY
When Gregory the Great closed his remarkable career, the
Papacy had reached a commanding place in western Christendom. To their
spiritual authority the popes had now begun to add some measure of temporal
power as rulers at Rome and in Italy. During the eighth century, as we have
already learned, the alliance of the popes and the Franks helped further
to establish the Papacy as an ecclesiastical monarchy, ruling over both the
souls and bodies of men. Henceforth it was to go forward from strength to
strength.
