Pope Gregory III

Gregory III. (* In Syria; † November 28 741 in Rome) was Pope from 731 to 741, he was up to the election of Pope Francis in 2013, the last non-European pope.

Life

Gregory III. was born with the name John, and came from Syria, and was elected on 18 March 731 Pope. His pontificate is one of the most difficult in the history of the Church: Like his predecessor Gregory II, it also came under him in serious disputes with Byzantium. After Emperor Leo III. had excommunicated during the Byzantine iconoclasm, the dioceses of Sicily, southern Italy and Illyria were annexed by the emperor to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople Opel. Gregor broke it off contact with Byzantium.

At the same time the Lombards invaded Italy in front on. Gregory III. then asked the first pope to the Franks for help, however - and this exacerbated the problem with Byzantium: still no success. Nevertheless, the binding of the Germans to the Catholic Church was more to Gregor time - Boniface Archbishop was 732 and 738 papal legate for Germania. In the year 732 forbade Gregory III. , To eat horse meat. Gregory III. died on 28 November 741 Its Catholic feast day is November 28th.

Under Gregory III. the feast of all saints in Rome was moved to November 1.