St. Gregory the Great Condemns Title 'Universal Bishop' as Antichrist's Precursor

The post presents a quotation from St. Gregory the Great, Pope of Rome, taken from his Epistles, Book VII, Letter 33 addressed to Emperor Mauritius. In the quotation Gregory states without hesitation that whoever calls himself the universal bishop or desires that title acts from pride and becomes the forerunner of Antichrist because he attempts to raise himself above others.

The original title of the post frames the quotation as a condemnation of the teaching of universal jurisdiction. Gregory is venerated as a saint and Church Father in the Orthodox Church. The quotation is often cited in Orthodox polemics against claims of universal papal jurisdiction.