Altmann of Passau

Who they were

Altmann was born at Paderborn early in the eleventh century, headed its school, was chaplain at the court of Henry III, and became Bishop of Passau and papal legate, a friend of Pope Gregory VII.

He was famous for his care of the poor, his reform of relaxed monasteries and building of new ones, and the splendour of divine worship, and for enforcing Gregory's decree on clerical celibacy, which brought him strong opposition. He died in 1091.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

A reforming bishop who stood with Pope Gregory VII for the Church's renewal.

Connected on this site

• Gregory VII Saint
  “Altmann was born at Paderborn early in the eleventh century, headed its school, was chaplain at the court of Henry III, and became Bishop of Passau and papal legate, a friend of Pope Gregory VII.” — this site's research