Final answer:
St. Augustine receiving a pallium from Pope St. Gregory the Great symbolized official papal backing and religious authority, reflecting the Pope's broader strategy to expand Christianity's influence through missions and political alliances during the Early Middle Ages.
Step-by-step explanation:
St. Augustine being given a pallium by Pope St. Gregory the Great is significant for several reasons. In the historical context, the pallium was a garment bestowed by the Pope that symbolized both a direct connection to the papal authority and a grant of ecclesiastical authority to the wearer. This act was especially significant considering the dynamic, often political, role the papacy played during the Early Middle Ages. Pope Gregory's act of bestowing the pallium upon St. Augustine is indicative of his spiritual influence and his efforts to establish and strengthen ties with religious leaders to expand Christian influence. It also demonstrated Gregory's commitment to missionary work as a means of spreading Christianity and solidifying the Church's power.
Pope Gregory's authority, while not military, was asserted through strategic political and spiritual relationships. His transfer of the pallium to Augustine was a concrete representation of his support for Augustine's missionary efforts in England and the authority delegated to carry them forth. This mirrored Gregory's broader strategy for expanding Christian dominion through conversions led by mission-driven clergy, influencing kings, and mitigating heresies, such as those challenged by Augustine in his theological work.