Gregory VII

American  

noun

1. Saint Hildebrand, c1020–85, Italian ecclesiastic: pope 1073–85.

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Gregory VII British  

noun

1. Saint, monastic name Hildebrand. ?1020-–85, pope (1073–85), who did much to reform abuses in the Church. His assertion of papal supremacy and his prohibition (1075) of lay investiture was opposed by the Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV, whom he excommunicated (1076). He was driven into exile when Henry captured Rome (1084). Feast day: May 25

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Example Sentences

It was a grovel akin to Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV standing barefoot in the snow for three days outside the castle of Pope Gregory VII, hoping to have his excommunication reversed.

From Washington Post

In 1075 Pope Gregory VII effectively barred married priests from ministry, a move which was formalised almost half a century later.

From The Guardian

Fourteen years later, Pope Gregory VII began to reduce the number of laymen in favor of clerics.

From The New Yorker

The last time that happened was 1415, when Gregory VII resigned as part of a negotiated deal to end the schism that had divided the church between rival papacies for close to 40 years.

From Time

As the papal jurisdiction extended itself under the system of Gregory VII. the legate had become a very useful instrument to bring the papal power to bear upon the internal affairs of the dioceses.

From Project Gutenberg