One of the most influential and important Christian leaders during the Early Medieval Period was Pope Gregory the Great (540–604 CE). Renown for his administrative prowess and ecclesiastical reforms during a time of "obscurantism, superstition, and credulity" (Gonzalez, 288), he helped solidify the Christian church as a pillar of European society for centuries to follow. As Moorhead notes, "He is generally regarded as one of the outstanding figures in the long line of popes, and by the late 9th century had come to be known as 'the Great,' a title which is still applied to him." (1)[image:5301]
This is a companion discussion topic for the original content at https://www.worldhistory.org/article/917/gregory-the-great--his-pastoral-care/.