POPE SAINT PONTIAN

POPE SAINT PONTIAN

The Liber Pontificalis is a book of information on the early popes, written in the fourth century. It is not always perfectly accurate and, as archeology reveals more information, new books are published with updated details. I try to get the newest data for these...
POPE SAINT URBAN I

POPE SAINT URBAN I

When Pope Callixstus died on October 14, 222, Urban I, a noble Roman, the son of Pontianus, was elected and became Bishop of Rome some time in early 223. This was shortly after the assassination of the emperor Elagabalus, known as the most disgusting, eccentric of all...
POPE SAINT CALLIXTUS

POPE SAINT CALLIXTUS

The sixteenth pope is a very controversial man whose sole biography was written by his arch-enemy, Hippolytus, as well as comments by another, Tertullian. Callixtus was the household slave of Carpophyrus, a Roman close to the Roman court. This Carpophyrus was a...
POPE STEPHEN IV, PROTECTOR OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE

POPE STEPHEN IV, PROTECTOR OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE

Pope Stephen IV is one of the shortest-lived popes, having reigned only seven months before he died. He is known for his piety and for protecting the papacy’s interest in controlling the Holy Roman Empire. Stephen was born in Rome, son of Marinus, of a noble family....

POPE ST. ELEUTHERIUS

Pope St. Eleutherius was a Greek, son of Habundius, born in Nicopolis, part of what is now Greece, some time after 100 AD. His name means “frank, honest, free-spirited”. Whether that is his real name or a description of the man is unknown. Eleutherius was...