Saint Gregory II, pope from 715 or 716 to February 11, 731, succeeded Pope Constantine, his election being variously dated May 19, 715, and March 21, 716. Having, it is said, bought off the Lombards for thirty pounds of gold, he used the tranquillity thus obtained for vigorous missionary efforts in Germany, and for strengthening the papal authority in the churches of England and Ireland. By excommunicating the Byzantine emperorLeo III the Isaurian, he prepared the way for a long series of revolts and civil wars, which tended greatly to the establishment of the temporal power of the popes. He died in 731, and subsequently attained the honour of canonization, February 13th being the day consecrated to his memory in the Martyrology
But throughout all his pontificate, Gregory failed not to scan with anxiety the movements of the Saracens, and he is credited with having sent tokens of encouragement to the Frankish leaders who were stemming their advance in Gaul.
Probably, however, it was done by GregoryII about the year 727; though perhaps it is not quite equally probable that the two famous condemnatory letters which GregoryII is said to have sent to Leo III are genuine.
Gregory died in February, and was buried in St. Peter's (11 Feb., 731).
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