Pope Gregory the Great: 'God Bless You'

Pope Gregory the Great, St Peter's Basilica

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On February 16th 600, Pope Gregory the Great (r. 590-604) issued a decree requiring people to say “God bless you” when in the presence of someone who sneezed.

At the end of the sixth century the Bubonic plague was rife in Europe and sneezing was believed to be the first sign of contamination. 

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