San Gregorio Magno

Unidentified · 18th century

This formidable figure represents St. Gregory wearing the tall miter of the pope. Known as Gregory the Great, Pope Gregory I was one of the four Latin Fathers of the Catholic Church. Born to a noble family in Rome, he gave up personal wealth to dedicate his life to God. He converted his palace into a monastery and lived there for seven years as a monk. He was made a deacon of Rome by Pope Benedict I and became pope in 590. During his papacy, Gregory established the rule of celibacy for the clergy and arranged church music and prayers into the Gregorian chants we hear today.