Sabinian

Sabinian · 604 – 606

Succeeded Gregory the Great but reversed some of his policies, drawing anger from Romans during a famine.

Sabinian was from Blera in Tuscany and had served as Gregory the Great's ambassador to Constantinople. As pope, he reversed Gregory's practice of free grain distribution, instead selling Church grain stores during a famine. This made him deeply unpopular. Later legends, probably exaggerated, claimed Gregory's ghost appeared to rebuke him. Sabinian also replaced monks with secular clergy in many church positions, pushing back against Gregory's monastic emphasis. His papacy lasted barely two years.

Following a Giant

Nobody envied Sabinian his job. Gregory the Great had been so beloved that anyone coming after him would look small by comparison. Sabinian made it worse by charging for grain Gregory had given away. Whether that was prudent stewardship or cold-heartedness depends on whom you ask, but the Romans had made up their minds.