ABSTRACT
Pope who had a formative influence on the early Catholic Church, defining its religious organization and developing its doctrines, or set of beliefs. An able administrator and energetic reformer, Gregory was a beloved and highly honored figure among Christian Europeans. He was often referred to as Gregory the Great and was officially recognized as a saint soon after his death. He was probably the person most responsible for formulating medieval spirituality, establishing the authority of the papacy, and shaping the kind of Christianity that was practiced throughout western Europe during the Middle Ages.
