St Gregory II, Pope

Saint Gregory II was the Pope of the Catholic Church from 715 to 731 AD. He was born in Rome, Italy around 669 AD and played a significant role in the early medieval period. As Pope, he worked to strengthen the authority of the papacy and defended the veneration of sacred images against the iconoclastic policies of the Byzantine Emperor Leo III. Gregory II also sent missionaries to evangelize Germanic tribes and worked to reform the clergy. He is venerated for his piety, leadership, and defense of the Catholic faith. Saint Gregory II is the patron saint of Rome.