February 11historicalUniversal
Gregory II
Saint
Sanctified Life
669 — 731
"The dogmas of the Church are the business of the Pontiffs, not of the Emperors."
A Roman official who ascended to the papacy during a time of immense political upheaval, Gregory II was a staunch defender of sacred art against the iconoclasts. His path of resistance to imperial interference and his support for missionaries like St. Boniface helped secure the future of Christian culture in Northern Europe.
Historical Legacy
Historical Journey
Life Locations
Historical Summary (Wikidata)
Pope Gregory II (669 – 11 February 731) was the Bishop of Rome from 19 May 715 to his death. His resistance to Emperor Leo III the Isaurian as a result of the iconoclastic controversy in the Byzantine Empire prepared the way for a long series of revolts, schisms and civil wars that eventually led to the establishment of the temporal power of the popes.
Canonization: saint
Historical Depiction
Wikimedia Commons Source
Titles & Roles
• Catholic priest• librarian• writer
Sacred Symbols
Life Journey
669—
Born in Rome
Born to the noble Savelli family.
715—
Papal Election
Elected Pope; begins repairing the walls of Rome.
719—
Mission to Germany
Commission St. Boniface to evangelize the Germanic peoples.
726—
Iconoclasm Conflict
Condemns the Emperor's edict against holy images.
731—
Death
Dies in Rome; buried in St. Peter's.