Gregory the Great

Pope Gregory I, commonly known as Saint Gregory the Great, was the bishop of Rome from 3 September 590 to his death, March 12, 604 AD.

He rejected use of the title “universal bishop“ by the patriarch of Constantinople and even said that such a claim would be “in his elation, the precursor of Antichrist.”

He wrote:

"Our brother and fellow-bishop John in the city of Constantinople attempted to call himself Universal Bishop. No one of my predecessors has ever consented to use this so profane a title. If one Patriarch is called Universal, the name of Patriarch in the case of the rest is derogated. While we are unwilling to receive this honour when offered to us, think how disgraceful it is for any one to have wished to usurp it to himself perforce. This is an act of pride that makes the bowels of the Universal Church disturbed. Far be it from the mind of a Christian, that any one should wish to seize for himself that whereby he might seem in the least degree to lessen the honour of his brethren."

He sent St Augustine to convert Britain. Many were already Christian, but not catholic.

Not to be confused with Saint Gregory of Nyssa.