medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear Kit,
I've got a great book called "Behind Locked Doors: A History of the Papal Elections" by Frederick J. Baumgartner, Palgrave 2003, and I quote from page 10:
"Information is limited on the election of the next four popes, including Greagory I the Great's in 590, despite vast source material on his life and reign. It is known that the clergy and the senators, who now represented teh Roman people, chose himn unanimously and that he wrote to the Byzantine emperor him to refuse consent because he felt overwhelmed by the tasks the new pope would face. The emperor did not, and Gregory went on to become one of the great popes. As a member of the patrician Roman family and great-great-grandson of Felix II, he had the training and family tradition to become a strong administrator. Gregory was also the first monk to be elected pope and favored monks for offices in the Roman church."
I have always wondered how anything got done back then...they had to go by horse or ship, and Gregory sent a letter from Rome to Byzantium...it's a miracle it got there at all. They never cease to amaze me.
Anyway, hope that helps,
Wendy Reardon
www.papal-death.com
"The Deaths of the Popes: Comprehensive Accounts Including Funerals, Burial Places, and Epitaphs"
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