 In 1776, Pius VI appointed the 34-year-old Dom Gregory, who had been teaching at the Monastery of Sant'Anselmo in Rome, as honorary abbot "in commendam" of his monastery.Although this was an ancient practice, it drew complaints from the monks of the community, as monastic communities generally felt it was not in keeping with the Rule of St. Benedict.In December 1782, the pope appointed Dom Gregory as the Bishop of Tivoli, near Rome.