a village priest and his rivalry with the Communist mayor Alessandro Manzoni – wrote the novel I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed) which reflects his Catholic faith; in his youth "he imbibed the anti-Catholic creed of Voltairianism", but after his marriage, under the influence of his wife, he "exchanged it for a fervent Catholicism" Giovanni Papini Francesco Petrarca Pope Pius II – in his younger days he had been a poet laureate and had written an erotic novel, Eurialus and Lucretia; later he wrote histories and epistles Clemente Rebora – poet and Rosminian priest Torquato Tasso – 16th-century poet; died one day before being crowned by pope Clement VIII as poet laureate Giuseppe Ungaretti Latin language Saint Ambrose Bishop of Milan; one of the Four Latin Church Fathers; notable for his influence on Augustine; promoter of antiphonal chant and for the Ambrosian Rite Augustine of Hippo earliest theologian and philosopher of the Church still having wide influence today; Bishop of Hippo; one of the Four Church Fathers; known for his apologetic work Confessions Boethius philosopher; known for The Consolation of Philosophy Pope Gregory I Pope; one of the Four Latin Church Fathers; born to a patrician family in Rome and became a monk; known today as being the first monk to become Pope and for traditionally being credited with Gregorian chant; emphasized charity in Rome Saint Jerome one of the Four Latin Church Fathers; known for translating the Bible into Latin; this translation is known as the Vulgate and became the founding source for Biblical subjects in the West Saint Thomas Aquinas one of the greatest philosophers, known for his Summa Theologica Lithuanian language Maironis – Romantic poet and priest Vincas Mykolaitis-Putinas – writer and poet Antanas Strazdas – priest, writer, and poet; became a folklore hero because of his humble origins Motiejus Valančius – Catholic bishop of Samogitia, historian and one of the best known Lithuanian writers of the 19th century Norwegian language Jon Fosse convert Sigrid Undset convert whose Medieval trilogy Kristin Lavransdatter has received high praise in Catholic circles; recipient of 1926 Nobel Prize in Literature Polish language Jan Kochanowski – provost, regarded as the greatest Polish poet Pope John Paul II – wrote plays in his youth, later wrote poetry as well as, of course, philosophical works and devotional meditations Zofia Kossak-Szczucka writer of historical novels; helped save Jews in occupied Poland during World War II Ignacy