| Pope from March 18, 731 to November 28, 741, a saint of the Roman Catholic Church. Date of Birth: 01.01.0690 Country: Italy |
Gregory III was born in Syria to a Christian father named John. On February 11, 731, he was unanimously elected Pope with popular support. However, his official consecration was delayed until March 18 after receiving approval from the Byzantine Exarch in Ravenna. Gregory III was the last Pope to require the Exarch's consent for his inauguration.
Upon taking office, Gregory III immediately appealed to Byzantine Emperor Leo III to moderate his stance on iconoclasm. When Gregory III's representative was arrested at the Emperor's behest, the Pope convened a synod in November 731, condemning iconoclasm. Leo III retaliated by attempting to reassert control over the Papacy, but a fleet sent to enforce the Emperor's will was lost in a storm in the Adriatic Sea. The Emperor transferred ecclesiastical jurisdictions in Sicily and Calabria to the Patriarch of Constantinople. However, his attempt to compel the Duke of Naples to enforce an edict confiscating Papal possessions in the duchy failed, as the Duke sided with the Pope.
Gregory III openly defied iconoclasm, emphasizing his veneration of icons and relics. He repaired and adorned numerous churches and commissioned an iconostasis in the center of St. Peter's Basilica, set between six onyx and marble columns gifted to Gregory III by the Exarch Eutychius.
Recognizing the enduring threat posed by the Lombards, Gregory III completed the restoration of Rome's walls in the early 730s. He also strengthened Civitavecchia and acquired the fortress of Gallese from Duke Trasimund II of Spoleto. Gregory III's opposition to iconoclasm did not conflict with his efforts to preserve imperial positions in Italy, specifically countering the Lombard conquest of the Exarchate of Ravenna.
In 738, Lombard king Liutprand demanded that the dukes of Spoleto and Benevento ravage the area around Rome, but both refused, citing their treaty with the Pope. Gregory III actively encouraged Trasimund II's rebellion, forcing Liutprand to temporarily abandon his attacks on the Exarchate to quell the uprising. Trasimund II was forced to flee to Spoleto and later seek refuge in Rome, where he was welcomed by Gregory III.
By mid-739, Liutprand again advanced on the Exarchate and threatened Rome. In desperation, Gregory III sent envoys to Duke Charles Martel, the Frankish majordomo. After the death of the Frankish king Theoderic IV in 737, the Pope had offered Martel the throne. He refused but ruled without a king, prompting the Pope to call him "Almost King." Gregory III cultivated a good relationship with Martel, even bestowing upon him the title of Roman "Patricius" (protector of Rome).
Despite Gregory III's promise to formally place the Papacy and the entire West under Frankish protection, Martel made no promises of assistance. The Lombards captured the towns of Amelia, Orte, Bomarzo, and Blera, prompting Gregory III to write to Martel again, pleading for his aid:
"Our sorrow impels us to approach you once more, in the hope that you are the loving son of Peter and that for his sake you will come and defend the Church of God and His people who are now unable to endure the persecution and oppression of the Lombards... Come quickly now, to show your love for Saint Peter..."
This time, Charles Martel sent an embassy to Rome, and this implied support, along with an outbreak of fever among the Lombard army, compelled Liutprand to retreat to Pavia in late August 739. Seizing the opportunity, Gregory III agreed to support Trasimund II's return to Spoleto. Trasimund II reached his home by December 739 but refused to surrender the four captured cities as promised in exchange for papal support.
Meanwhile, news of Charles Martel's illness reached Rome, and Liutprand renewed his attacks on the Exarchate in 740. Gregory III again appealed to the Franks, who once more declined to intervene in Rome's defense. He sent an embassy to Liutprand, requesting the return of the cities, but to no avail.
Unable to eliminate the Lombard threat, Gregory III died on November 28, 741. He was buried in St. Peter's Basilica. Saint Gregory's feast day is celebrated on November 28. Gregory III is remembered as a staunch defender of papal authority and a vocal opponent of iconoclasm. His pontificate marked a significant turning point in the relationship between the Papacy and the Byzantine Empire, setting the stage for future conflicts and ultimately leading to the formation of the Western Church.