World

SAINT PROFILE: POPE GREGORY II

C. 669-731 ; FEAST: FEBRUARY 11

By CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE     2/15/2017

As a subdeacon and deacon, this Roman served as treasurer and librarian of the church of Roman and became an expert theologian. He accompanied Pope Constantine to Constantinople and helped resolve doctrinal and disciplinary problems that arose at a church council. Because of this wisdom and experience, he was elected pope and consecrated a bishop in 715. He tried to slow the progress of the Germanic Lombard people into Italy and fell our with the Eastern emperor over excessive taxation. He sent St. Boniface to evangelize Germany and consecrated him a bishop.