Pope Gregory VIII, born as Alberto di Morra, served as the head of the Roman Catholic Church from 1187 to 1187. He was elected pope during a time of significant political and religious turmoil in Europe. His papacy was notably marked by his efforts to promote the Third Crusade, which aimed to reclaim Jerusalem from Muslim control. Gregory VIII is best known for issuing the papal bull Audita tremendi, which called for the mobilization of Christian forces to support the crusade. His reign was brief, lasting only a few months, as he died in December 1187, shortly after his election.