“Servant of the servants of God”

Gregory was born in Roma ca.540 to a distinguished Christian family of senatorial rank or great wealth and lived in a palace as a young man. Gregory is related to two former popes, Felix III and Agapitus I, and he had aunts who were also nuns. At the age of thirty, Gregory was Prefect of Rome - the chief administrative officer of the city presiding over the Roman Senate-  responsible for finances, police, provisioning, and public works; an experience that helped him refine his administrative skills.

Not long after his father’s death in 574, Gregory converted his family home into a monastery dedicating it to St. Andrew and became a monk himself. This position along with his personal wealth gave him the opportunity to create six monasteries on his families properties in Sicily. Many have claimed these years to be the happiest of his life and he used the surplus of his inheritance to aid the poor. During this time, Gregory dedicated himself to detailed study of the scriptures becoming a devout person of fasting and sacrifice that would later play a major role in his early death.

He was soon called to re-enter the “world” and was ordained a deacon by Benedict I in 577. A year later there was a great flood that brought plague and famine to Rome and Pope Pelagius died. Although Gregory tried to refuse the office, he succeeded him as pope and did so vigorously. He was the first pope to have a monastic background and used his position to better the welfare of Rome.  

References:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/rulers/gregory-great.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Gregory_I