- Not to be confused with the earlier Antipope Gregory VIII
| Gregory VIII | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Birth name | Albert de Mora |
| Papacy began | October 25, 1187 |
| Papacy ended | December 17, 1187 |
| Predecessor | Urban III |
| Successor | Clement III |
| Born | c. 1100 Benevento, Italy |
| Died | December 17 1187 Pisa, Italy |
| Other popes named Gregory | |
Pope Gregory VIII (c. 1100, Benevento, Italy–December 17, 1187, Pisa, Italy), born Albert de Mora, was Pope from October 25, 1187 until his death. Gregory VIII was a well-educated Beneventan noble who became a Cistercian monk at a young age. In 1172 he attended the council of Avranches as papal legate, which absolved Henry II of England (1154–1189) from the guilt of the murder of Thomas Becket (1118–1170). He was consecrated as Pope in place of Pope Urban III (1185–1187) on October 25, 1187. His first act as Pope was to issue the papal bull Audita tremendi, which called for the Third Crusade in response to the Battle of Hattin earlier that year. Jerusalem itself had fallen in October, but news of this had not yet reached the Pope. Gregory VIII did not live to see the crusade, as he died of fever that same year. Pope Clement III (1187–1191) was his successor.
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Urban III |
Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Peter (deprecated A.D. 495), Vicar of Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles Supreme Pontiff (Pontifex Maximus) Patriarch of the West (deprecated 2006), Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province Servant of the Servants of God Pope 1187 |
Succeeded by Clement III |
