We continue our study of the Popes throughout the history of the Church. We look to the Popes from St Peter through Emperor Constantine's conversion and Pope Sylvester.
Listen online [here]!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The History of the Popes
The Good, the Bad, and the Phony
Session 2, The Popes under time of persecution
You are Peter, and upon this Rock I will build my Church. (Matthew 16:18)
I. Course Outline
January 28th -- Introduction to the Papacy, Papal Elections, the First Popes
February 4th -- Popes under the time of persecution
February 11th – Popes of the Middle Ages
February 18th -- Popes in the Early Modern Period
February 25th -- Popes in Recent Times
II. The Popes during the time of the Apostles
St Peter (see last week’s handout for the overview from Butler’s Lives of the Saints).
Peter was the longest reigning Pope, having served for 34 years. First, he was Bishop in Antioch for 7 years; he then served in Rome for about 25 years. Feast day: June 29th, with St Paul. Feast of the Chair of Peter: February 22nd (at Antioch, principle feast), January 18th (at Rome, minor feast).
St Linus (see last week’s handout for the overview from Gueranger):
St Linus was ordained by St Paul. He is mentioned in Scripture, 2 Timothy 4:21. Feast, September 23rd. #2
St Cletus (see last week’s handout for the overview from Gueranger):
He was ordained by St Peter. He is known both by the names Cletus and Anacletus. Feast, April 26th. #3
St Clement (see last week’s handout for the overview from Gueranger):
Ordained (perhaps only as deacon) by St Peter. He wrote a letter to the Corinthians which is still of great importance to the Church. He was the last pope to reign under the Apostles, as St John the Evangelist was still alive. Pope St Clement’s life is an important witness to the primacy of the Pope, as the Corinthians looked to him to guide their Church even though St John was still alive. Feast, November 23rd. #4
III. Popes during the time of persecution
St Evaristus: He divided Rome into parishes with a priest for each. He served from about 97-105 and it is likely that St John the Evangelist died during his papacy, making him the pope to bring us to post-apostolic age. Feast, October 26th. #5
St Hippolytus: His story coincides with Pope St Pontian. Hippolytus was anti-pope who was later reconciled with the Church. c 217-235. He was an extremely important theologian in the early Church and credited with writing the Apostolic Tradition which is one of the most important early works testifying to the faith and practice of the Church from the time of the Apostles. He may have been a disciple of St Irenaeus who was himself the disciple of St Polycarp who was disciple of St John the Evangelist. St Hippolytus wanted the Church to be more strict in the ways of accepting pagan converts to Christianity, and he ultimately became the bishop of a schismatic sect in Rome – making him to be the first anti-Pope. He seems to have been opposed to the use of confession more than once in a person’s life. However, after being persecuted by the Roman authorities and sent into exile, he was reconciled to the Church by Pope St Pontian (who was also in exile) before dying as a martyr. Feast, August 13th. (in the Novus Ordo, this feast is shared with St Pontian).
St Pontian: His story coincides with that of St Hippolytus, 230-235. Traditional feast is November 19th, but Novus Ordo is shared with St Hippolytus on August 13th). #18
St Fabian: The story of his election as Pope is especially interesting. From Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History, “They say that Fabian … was chosen to the office (of the Papacy) through a most wonderful manifestation of divine and heavenly grace. For when all the brethren had assembled to select by vote him who should succeed to the episcopate of the church, several renowned and honorable men were in the minds of many, but Fabian, although present, was in the mind of none. But they relate that suddenly a dove flying down lighted on his head, resembling the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Savior in the form of a dove. Thereupon all the people, as if moved by one Divine Spirit, with all eagerness and unanimity cried out that he was worthy, and without delay they took him and placed him upon the episcopal seat.” It is likely that Fabian was only a layman at the time of his election! Served from 236-250. He divided Rome to 7 districts headed by 7 deacons and was a very good administrator. Feast, January 20th with St Sebastian (who actually lived shortly after St Fabian). #20
St Cornelius: He served as Pope during a time of great controversy regarding the reconciliation of public sinners and especially of those who had apostatized during times of persecution. Some were excessively strict and others were too lenient, but St Cornelius walked the middle ground. He was supported by St Cyprian of Carthage, who is one of the very important theologians of the early Church and is actually more famous than Pope St Cornelius. He was opposed by Novatian, who was also a brilliant theologian but who became an anti-pope and died outside the Church. Pope from 251-253. He is listed in the Roman Canon of the Mass, grouped with St Cyprian after St Sixtus II (even though he was Pope before St Sixtus II). #21
St Sixtus II: Served as Pope during the time of St Lawrence the Deacon. St Sixtus II was celebrating Mass in the catacombs when the authorities came and arrested him and all those gathered with him. St Lawrence was not present, but was apprehended later and they were martyred just a few days apart, Sixtus II on August 6th and Lawrence on August 10th. Pope from 257-258. Feast, August 6th (or 7th in Novus Ordo). #24
St Melchiades (Meltiades): Pope from 311-314. He was the Pope when Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan in 313, ending the time of persecution. [Note that St Dionysius (the 25th Pope, c 259-268) seems to be the first not to die as a martyr.] St Melchiades did not actually die as a martyr but is stylized as a martyr in the Liturgy because of the persecution at the beginning of his papacy. Feast, December 10th. #32
IV. Popes immediately after Constantine
St Sylvester I: Pope from 314-335. He was Pope during the First Council of Nicaea (325, this year is the 1700th anniversary), the first ecumenical council. Under him was built: the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme and Old St. Peter's Basilica. Legendary recipient of the Donation of Constantine, which was later shown to be a forgery in the 1400s. This document supposedly was a decree of Emperor Constantine which granted political and temporal powers to the Pope, making him ruler of Rome and the provinces around the City, as well as granting him various privileges and properties (including the Lateran Palace). Feast, December 31st. #33
Liberius: Pope from 352-366. In the aftermath of the Council of Nicaea, there was still a great rise in Arianism. Liberius fought this heresy, but was exiled by Emperor Constantius but was later restored to Rome. He is first pope not canonized, and he and Anastasius II (d. 498 #50) are the only popes not canonized in the first 500 years. Some accused Liberius of not being so strong against Arianism during his exile and claim that he conceded to some Arian doctrines as a means of being reinstated in Rome (however later scholars and theologians have shown this is not accurate – yet, this is probably the reason why he was never canonized). #36
St Damasus, Pope from 366-384. Damasus is most famous for supporting St Jerome in his work on the Vulgate Bible. At the time, it was quite controversial that Jerome was translating principally from the Hebrew texts of the Old Testament rather than from the Greek Septuagint. He presided over an important synod called the Council of Rome of 382, which produced the first complete list of the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments. This is the list which was also approved at the Council of Trent. He was Pope during council of Constantinople. Feast, December 11th. #37
St Leo the Great: Pope from 440-461. One of the Popes called “the Great” both for his theological insights and for his excellent administration of the Church. He is the Doctor of Unity – the unity of the single person of Jesus Christ in two Natures, and the unity of the Church which is expressed in the person of the Pope. He famously turned away Attila the Hun, who was planning to sack the city of Rome. By a miracle, he saved Rome. The “Tome of Leo” is a very important document for Christology, and is still used today in seminary studies. He had great influence upon the Council of Chalcedon, which was concerned with correct belief about Jesus Christ as God and Man. Traditional feast, April 11th; Novus Ordo, November 10th. #45
Vigilius, Pope from 537-555. He was elected thru political intrigue, using power of Emperess Theodora and promising to uphold Monophysite heresy. He had been the favorite candidate of Pope Boniface II (who had gone so far as to name him as his successor). However, as the saying goes, “He who enters the conclave a Pope, leaves it a cardinal), and he was not elected. Pope St Silverius was elected instead, but Vigilius was able to get the support of Empress Theodora and return to Rome, ousting St Silverius and having him “deposed”. Vigilius was then elected Pope, this was very questionable start. After St Silverius died in exile, Liberius was recognized as Pope by all the Roman clergy, and so he is indisputably a valid Pope. However, amazingly, after he becomes the true Pope, Vigilius but immediately changed course and upheld true faith against the Monophysites and Emperess Theodora. God still preserves the Bishop of Rome from leading the Church astray! #59
V. Some notes on the Popes
1. How many popes have been canonized? 83 out of the 265 deceased popes have been canonized. 52 of the first 55 have become saints, but after St Pius V (d 1572) the next canonized pope is St Pius X (d 1914) over 300 years later! Recently, we have had a number of popes either canonized or declared blessed: St Pius X (d 1903), St John XXIII (d 1958), St Paul VI (d 1963), St John Paul II (d 1978); and Bl Pius IX (d 1846), Bl John Paul I (d 1978). The last time there were three or more saint popes within 100 years was when Pope St Adrian III died in 884 (at that time there had actually been 5 saint popes in a 100 year stretch).
