In 1073 A.D. there came to the throne of St. Peter one of
the most remarkable of the popes. This was Hildebrand, who, on becoming pope,
took the name of Gregory VII. Of obscure Italian birth, he received his
education in a Benedictine monastery at Rome and rose rapidly to a position of
great influence in papal affairs. He is described as a small man, ungainly in
appearance and with a weak voice, but energetic, forceful, and of imperious
will.
GREGORY'S AIMS
Gregory devoted all his talents to the advancement of the
Papacy. A contemporary document, [36] which may have been of Gregory's own
composition and at any rate expresses his ideas, contains the following
statements: "The Roman pontiff alone is properly called universal. He
alone may depose bishops and restore them to office. He is the only person
whose feet are kissed by all princes. He may depose emperors. He may be judged
by no one. He may absolve from their allegiance the subjects of the wicked. The
Roman Church never has erred, and never can err, as the Scriptures
testify." Gregory did not originate these doctrines, but he was the first
pope who ventured to make a practical application of them.
