masc. proper name, common in England and Scotland by mid-12c. (Pope Gregory I sent the men who converted the English to Christianity), from Late Latin Gregorius, from Greek gregorios, a derivative of gregoros "to be watchful," from PIE root *ger- "to be awake" (cf. Sanskrit jagarti "he is awake," Avestan agarayeiti "wakes up, rouses"). At times confused with Latin gregarius (see gregarious).
the last French pope and the last of the Avignonese popes, when Avignon was the papal seat (1309-77). He reigned from 1370 to 1378.
pope from 1406 to 1415. He was the last of the Roman line during the Western Schism (1378-1417), when the papacy was contested by antipopes in Avignon and in Pisa
pope from 1831 to 1846. His efforts to consolidate papal authority within the church were matched by his support of traditional monarchies throughout Europe.