Feast day: May 25
When Saint Gregory VII became Pope, the corruption of the clergy had become a serious scandal to the faithful of the Church. Pope Gregory VII saw the need for reform, so he dismissed the members of the clergy who had purchased their positions in the Church—a practice called simony. Then these corrupt clergy members rebelled against Pope Gregory VII and, after he received no support from Emperor Henry IV, he was exiled.
Gregory was eventually reinstated, through the support of the Normans. However, the Normans were so sporadic in their actions that the Romans exiled both them and Pope Gregory VII as well. Pope Gregory VII settled in Salerno, Italy, where he finished his papacy.
(Image in public domain-70)