A---,
In its article on Gregory, the Catholic Encyclopedia says this:
A large number of letters relate to the reforms instituted by the pope (Epp., II, xlvii; III, xxxvi; IV, ix,xxiii-xxvii, xxix; V, ii; IX, i, xi, ccii-cciv; XIV, ii). His care over the election of a new bishop whenever a vacancy occurs is shown in many cases, and if, after his examination of the elect, which is always a searching one, he finds him unfitted for the post, he has no hesitation in rejecting him and commanding another to be chosen (Epp., I, lv, lvi; VII, xxxviii; X, vii).The same article includes a passage from the Protestant historian Dudden:
In his dealings with the Churches of the West, Gregory acted invariably on the assumption that all were subject to the jurisdiction of the Roman See. Of the rights claimed or exercised by his predecessors he would not abate one tittle; on the contrary, he did everything in his power to maintain, strengthen, and extend what he regarded as the just prerogatives of the papacy. It is true that he respected the privileges of the Western metropolitans, and disapproved of unnecessary interference within the sphere of their jurisdiction canonically exercised. . . . But of his general principle there can be no doubt whatever (Dudden, I, 475).Finally, the article addresses in passing the controversy at hand:
There cannot be the smallest doubt that Gregory claimed for the Apostolic See, and for himself as pope, a primacy not of honor, but of supreme authority over the Church Universal. In Epp., XIII, l, he speaks of "the Apostolic See, which is the head of all Churches", and in Epp., V, cliv, he says: "I, albeit unworthy, have been set up in command of the Church." As successor of St. Peter, the pope had received from God a primacy over all Churches (Epp., II, xlvi; III, xxx; V, xxxvii; VII, xxxvii). His approval it was which gave force to the decrees of councils or synods (Epp., IX, clvi), and his authority could annul them (Epp., V, xxxix, xli, xliv). To him appeals might be made even against other patriarchs, and by him bishops were judged and corrected if need were (Epp., II, l; III, lii, lxiii; IX, xxvi, xxvii).I had hoped to provide links to each letter, but unfortunately the citations refer to an edition of his letters which is not the one found online at New Advent.
This position naturally made it impossible for him to permit the use of the title Ecumenical Bishop assumed by the Patriarch of Constantinople, John the Faster, at a synod held in 588. Gregory protested, and a long controversy followed, the question still at issue when the pope died. A discussion of this controversy is needless here, but it is important as showing how completely Gregory regarded the Eastern patriarchs as being subject to himself; "As regards the Church of Constantinople," he writes in Epp., IX, xxvi, "who can doubt that it is subject to the Apostolic See? Why, both our most religious lord the emperor, and our brother the Bishop of Constantinople continually acknowledge it."
At the same time the pope was most careful not to interfere with the canonical rights of the other patriarchs and bishops. With the other Oriental patriarchs his relations were most cordial, as appears from his letters to the patriarchs of Antioch and Alexandria.
"Epistolae", ed. P. Ewald and L. M. Hartmann in "Mon. Germ. Hist.: Epist.", I, II (Berlin, 1891-99); this is the authoritative edition of the text of the Epistles (all references given above are to this edition)Sigh. Why isn't every book in the world online yet?
That did not deter me, however, from finding other supports for the position defended in the Catholic Encyclopedia, i.e., that Gregory as Bishop of Rome claimed authority over the universal Church - some of which have already been mentioned. Encouraged by Dudden, I found the following ten claims make by Pope St. Gregory the Great about the Apostolic See (with links to New Advent, all emphasises are my own):
(1) From Book III, Letter 30:
Inasmuch as it is manifest that the Apostolic See is, by the ordering of God, set over all Churches, there is, among our manifold cares, especial demand for our attention, when our decision is awaited with a view to the consecration of a bishop.
(2) From Book IV, Letter 2:
...since after such a schism had taken place about nothing, it was right that the Apostolic See should take heed, with the view of guarding in all respects the unity of the Universal Church in the minds of priests.
(3) From Book IX, Letter 81 (to Maximus, Bishop of Salona):
Although to what was faulty in thy ordination at the first thou hast added serious evil through the fault of disobedience, yet we, tempering with becoming moderation the authority of the Apostolic See , have never been incensed against thee to the extent that the case demanded. [Why would Gregory rebuke what was faulty in the ordination of another bishop, and reference the "authority of the Apostolic See" in an ominous way, if he thought that the Bishop of Rome had no authority over other bishops?]
(4) From Book IX, Letter 111 (to Virgilius, Bishop of Arelate):
This [i.e., asking that the pope confirm the rights granted to the monastery] he [i.e., Childebert] did as knowing such reverence to be paid by the faithful to the Apostolic See that what had been settled by its decree no molestation of unlawful usurpation would thereafter shake.
(5) From Book V, Letter 52 (to the same):
But, since it is well known to all whence the holy faith proceeded in the regions of Gaul, when your Fraternity asks for a repetition of the old custom of the Apostolic See, what is it but that a good offspring reverts to the bosom of its mother? [A parent and child may equally possesses the same nature, but one retains authority.]
(6) From Book V, Letter 54 (to all the Bishops of Gaul under Childebert):
But if a contention (which may the Divine power avert) should happen to arise on matters of faith, or any business come up about which there may perchance be serious doubt, and he should be in need of the judgment of the Apostolic See in place of his own greatness, we have directed him that, having diligently enquired into the truth, he should take care to bring the question under our cognizance by a report from himself, to the end that it may be terminated by a suitable sentence so as to remove all doubt. [Why would Gregory say that the judgment of the Apostolic See will terminate and remove all doubt on a question about matters of faith, unless he thought that the See of Peter possessed an authority which the all bishops of Gaul lacked?]
(7) From Book II, Letter 48 (to Columbus, in dealing with errant bishops):
But we, who, though unworthy, have undertaken the government of the Apostolic See in the stead of Peter the prince of the apostles, are compelled by the very office of our pontificate to resist the general enemy by all the efforts in our power. [Why does he mention Peter as prince of the apostles here if not to reinforce that his jurisdiction extents even to, I think, Africa, where Columbus was?]
(8) From Book IX, Letter 12 (to John, bishop of Syracuse):
For as to what they say about the Church of Constantinople, who can doubt that it is subject to the Apostolic See, as both the most pious lord the emperor and our brother the bishop of that city continually acknowledge? Yet, if this or any other Church has anything that is good, I am prepared in what is good to imitate even my inferiors, while prohibiting them from things unlawful. For he is foolish who thinks himself first in such a way as to scorn to learn whatever good things he may see. [This was quoted above; notice that the last line removes the charge of arrogance -- of which you yourself know that the saintly Gregory was not guilty.]
(9) From Book IX, Letter 68 (to Eusebius):
And although our most pious Emperor allows nothing unlawful to be done there, yet, lest perverse men, taking occasion of your assembly, should seek opportunity of cajoling you in favouring this name of superstition, or should think of holding a synod about some other matter, with the view of introducing it therein by cunning contrivances,-- though without the authority and consent of the Apostolic See nothing that might be passed would have any force... [why would the decrees of a synod have no force without the consent of the Apostolic See unless it possessed a unique authority in the Episcopate?]
(10) From Book V, Letter 21:
But, when this my brother [John] with new presumption and pride calls himself universal bishop, having caused himself in the time of our predecessor of holy memory to be designated in synod by this so proud a title, though all the acts of that synod were abrogated, being disallowed by the Apostolic See,-the most serene Lord gives me a somewhat distressing intimation, in that he has not rebuked him who is acting proudly, but endeavours to bend me from my purpose, who in this cause of defending the truth of the Gospels and Canons, of humility and rectitude; whereas my aforesaid brother [John] and fellow-priest is acting against evangelical principles and also against the blessed Apostle Peter, and against all the churches, and against the ordinances of the Canons. [Why would one who falsely calls himself "universal bishop" be acting against (1) evangelical principles, (2) the prince of the apostles, and (3) all the churches, unless it was because he was usurping the place of the one to whom that title properly belonged?]
You can find more if you do a search for "Registrum Epistolarum Apostolic See" on New Advent. I found 45 hits.
I think all these sufficiently establish that Gregory believed, rightly or wrongly, that the Bishop of Rome possessed authority that surpassed that of other bishops - which is all I have tried to show, leaving aside for the moment the question of whether that authority exists under the New Covenant according to the will of Christ.
Have I convinced you?
Update: He said yes.
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