Pope Blessed Gregory X

Biography

Pope Blessed Gregory X, also known as Teobaldo Visconti or Theobald Visconti, was born in 1210 in Piacenza, Italy. Little is known about his early life, but he became known for his intelligence and dedication to the Church. He worked for Cardinal Jacopo of Palestrina and eventually became the Archdeacon of Liege, Belgium. One of the significant achievements of Pope Gregory X was his assignment to preach the last Crusade. He accompanied the Crusaders to Palestine and was still there when he was unexpectedly elected Pope. What makes his election unique is that he was elected before being ordained as a priest. He was ordained on 19 March 1272 and became the 184th Pope. As Pope, Gregory X had several main focuses. He worked tirelessly to restore peace between Christian nations and rulers, aiming for the recovery of the Holy Lands from the Muslims. Additionally, he sought to reform the spiritual lives of both the clergy and laity. During his pontificate, Pope Gregory X called the Council of Lyons. The council briefly reconciled the Orthodox and Latin Churches, promoting unity and understanding between the two. He also made significant efforts to restore peace between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, two conflicting factions in Tuscany and Lombardy. Pope Gregory X excommunicated those who worked against reconciliation, aiming to bring stability to the region. Another notable accomplishment of Pope Gregory X was his involvement in settling the fight over the crown among German princes. He crowned Rudolf of Habsburg as the Holy Roman Emperor, resolving the dispute and bringing peace to the region. Pope Gregory X died on 10 January 1276 at Arezzo, Italy, after contracting a fever. His dedication to the Church and his efforts for peace and reconciliation left a lasting impact. He was beatified on 8 July 1713 by Pope Clement XI, and his cultus, or public veneration, was confirmed. While Pope Blessed Gregory X is not associated with any specific patronage, his commitment to peace and reconciliation serves as a timeless example for all Christians. His feast day is celebrated on 10 January in the 2001 Roman Martyrology, 9 January in the 1963 Roman Martyrology, and formerly 16 February or 11 February on some calendars.