# Pope Gregory XVI

_Pope of the Catholic Church from 1831 to 1846 (1765–1846)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/pope-gregory-xvi
Last updated: 2026-11-03

> Pope Gregory XVI (Latin: Gregorius PP. XVI; Italian: Gregorio XVI; born Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari; 18 September 1765 – 1 June 1846) was head of the Catholic Church and leader of the Papal States from 2 February 1831 to his death in June 1846. He had adopted the name Mauro upon entering the religious order of the Camaldolese. He is the most recent pope to take the pontifical name "Gregory", the last to govern the Papal States for the whole duration of his pontificate, and the most recent not to have been a bishop when elected.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 18 September 1765 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q43734#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Belluno ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q43734#P19))
- **Died:** 1 June 1846 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q43734#P570))
- **Place of death:** Rome ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q43734#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Papal States ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q43734#P27))
- **Occupation:** Catholic priest; Catholic bishop ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q43734#P106))
- **Positions held:** Pope (2 February 1831 – 1 June 1846); cardinal (21 March 1825 – 2 February 1831); abbot ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q43734#P39))

## About

Born in Belluno, Cappellari joined the order of Camaldolese when he was eighteen. Ordained as a priest in 1787, he was a teacher of both philosophy and theology. Cappellari was made a cardinal, and, in 1831, he was elected as pope, taking the papal name Gregory XVI. A staunch defender of traditional doctrine against new ideas, he worked to protect the Papal States from attacks by Italian patriotic movements. His pontificate saw a renewed commitment to missionary work overseas. In his 1839 papal brief In supremo apostolatus, Pope Gregory XVI condemned both the slave trade and the continuance of the institution of slavery. He died of erysipelas in June 1846.

## Questions

**When was Pope Gregory XVI born?**  
Pope Gregory XVI was born on 18 September 1765 in Belluno.

**What positions has Pope Gregory XVI held?**  
Positions held by Pope Gregory XVI include: Pope (1831–1846); cardinal (1825–1831); abbot.

## Related

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- [Pope Gregory XIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-gregory-xiii)
- [Pope Clement VII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-clement-vii)
- [Pope Pius I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-pius-i)
- [Pope Boniface I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-boniface-i)
- [Pope Agapetus I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-agapetus-i)
- [Pope Hormisdas](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-hormisdas)
- [Pope Innocent VIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-innocent-viii)
- [Pope Alexander VIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-alexander-viii)
- [Pope Innocent X](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-innocent-x)
- [Pope Paul II](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-paul-ii)
- [Pope Paschal I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-paschal-i)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Pope Gregory XVI](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Gregory_XVI) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q43734](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q43734) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Gregory XVI.jpg by Paul Delaroche (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gregory_XVI.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Pope Gregory XVI, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Gregory XVI.jpg — Paul Delaroche, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Pope Gregory XVI". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/pope-gregory-xvi. Retrieved 6 November 2026.