The Popes: From St. Peter to Present (Cont.)

5th Century

Supreme Pontiff

Detail 

(dates*, ages, prior name, feast, comment/attributes, etc.)

40. St. Innocent I

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: December 21/22, 401

End of Reign: March 12, 417

Date of Death: March 12, 417

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Over 15 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): July 28

The Roman Empire fell during his papacy. He promoted clerical celibacy, confirmed Bishops as the ordinary minister of Confirmation, forbid sacred prayers from being spoken in front of infidels, fought the Pelagian heresy, and clearly enunciated papal primacy. First pope to be son of his predecessor, St. Anastasius I (clerical continence did not apply before being elevated to major orders).

41. St. Zosimus

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: March 18, 417

End of Reign: December 26, 418

Date of Death: December 26, 418

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Over 21 months

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): December 26

Defender of papal supremacy. Known for at first defending the already-condemned Pelagius before reconfirming the condemnation. [Note: The pope was not exercising infallibility. His judgements were directed at persons, not at doctrine, and they were not addressed to the Church as a whole.]

42. St. Boniface I

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: December 28/29, 418

End of Reign: September 4, 422

Date of Death: September 4, 422

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: "old age"

Approx. Length of Reign: Over 3.5 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): September 4

Fought against Pelagianism, defended papal primacy.

43. St. Celestine I

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: September 10, 422

End of Reign: July 27, 432

Date of Death: July 27, 432

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Nearly 10 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): April 6 / July 27

Fought heresy, condemned Nestorianism, defended papal primacy, sent first bishop to Ireland.

44. St. Sixtus (Xystus) III

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: July 31, 432

End of Reign: August 19, 440

Date of Death: August 19, 440

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Over 8 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): March 28

Exercised diplomacy to secure peace, built many churches, founded monastery.

45. St. Leo I (the Great)

Birth Date: late 4th century

Beginning of Reign: Late 440

End of Reign: November 10, 461

Date of Death: November 10, 461

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Approx. 21 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): November 10

Doctor of the Church and first pope (of two) to be called "great". Promoted and asserted papal primacy. Personally persuaded Attila the Hun to withdraw from Italy. Known for famous 'Tome' asserting the two natures in Christ.

46. St. Hilarus (Hilarius, Hilary)

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: November 19, 461

End of Reign: February 29, 468

Date of Death: February 29, 468

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Over 6 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): February 28

Fought for orthodoxy, built libraries and a monastery, and built and adorned churches.

47. St. Simplicius

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: March 3, 468

End of Reign: March 10, 483

Date of Death: March 10, 483

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Just over 15 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): March 10

Witnessed what is sometimes called the fall of the Roman Empire in the West. Credited with being a noteworthy builder.

48. St. Felix II (III)

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: March 13, 483

End of Reign: March 1, 492

Date of Death: March 1, 492

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Just under 9 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): March 1

Ancestor of St. Gregory the Great and first known aristocrat to become pope. After issuing condemnations, Felix witnessed the beginning of the Acacian schism. (Sometimes called Felix III due to incorrect inclusion of an antipope in the list of popes)

49. St. Gelasius I

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: March 1, 492

End of Reign: November 21, 496

Date of Death: November 21, 496

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Over 4.5 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): November 21

Fought against heresies (especially Manichaeism). Asserted and promoted papal supremacy. Pointed out distinction between priestly and secular power. Was an active builder and prolific writer.

50. Anastasius II

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: November 24, 496

End of Reign: November 19, 498

Date of Death: November 19, 498

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Just under 2 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): N/A

Fought against heresy and schism. Attempted to restore peace (for his concessions, he was spoken of critically - including a negative reference in Dante's Divine Comedy).

51. St. Symmachus

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: November 22, 498

End of Reign: July 19, 514

Date of Death: July 19, 514

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Over 15.5 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): July 19

Beginning of papacy marked by the declaration of two different men as pope. This was followed by a synod attempting to judge the pope and his subsequent declaration excluding lay involvement in Church matters. He expelled the Manichaeans from Rome. May have been the first pope to make the Vatican his home.

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6th Century

Supreme Pontiff

Detail 

(dates*, ages, prior name, feast, comment/attributes, etc.)

52. St. Hormisdas

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: July 20, 514

End of Reign: August 6, 523

Date of Death: August 6, 523

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Just over 9 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): August 6

Ended Acacian schism. His son, Silverius, would later become pope (Hormisdas was married and widowed before receiving holy orders).

53. St. John I

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: August 13, 523

End of Reign: May 18, 526

Date of Death: May 18, 526

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: "elderly"

Lived to Approx. Age: "old age"

Approx. Length of Reign: Nearly 3 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): May 18

Assisted in ending persecution of Arians. Against the (Arian) king's will, however, John refused to encourage Arians who were forced (by the emperor) to convert to Catholicism to reconvert to Arianism. Has been regarded as a martyr for orthodoxy.

54. St. Felix III (IV)

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: July 12, 526

End of Reign: September 22, 530

Date of Death: September 22, 530

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Over 4 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): September 22

Ordained more than fifty priests. Converted temples and public buildings to churches. Was generous to the poor. Controversially nominated his successor (including bestowing the pallium).

55. Boniface II

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: September 22, 530

End of Reign: October 17, 532

Date of Death: October 17, 532

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Over 2 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): N/A

First Germanic pope. He suffered from a contested election. Was a supporter of the clergy. Attempted to nominate his successor, but later retracted.

56. John II

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: January 2, 533

End of Reign: May 8, 535

Date of Death: May 8, 535

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: "elderly"

Lived to Approx. Age: "old age"

Approx. Length of Reign: Over 2 years

Prior Name (if different): Mercury (Mercurius)

Feast Day (if applicable): N/A

He was the first pope to change his own name upon election (his given name was pagan). He contradicted his predecessor in allowing a formula that contained elements considered open to misunderstanding. [Note: Infallibility is not involved here as he was not intending to pronounce infallibly. Also, the formula could have an orthodox interpretation.]

57. St. Agapitus (Agapetus) I

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: May 13, 535

End of Reign: April 22, 536

Date of Death: April 22, 536

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: "elderly"

Lived to Approx. Age: "old age"

Approx. Length of Reign: Approx. 11 months

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): April 22

Publicly burned anathema of antipope Dioscorus. Ruled that converted Arians could not hold clerical office.

58. St. Silverius

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: June 8, 536

End of Reign: November 11, 537

Date of Death: December 2, 537

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Approx. 17 months

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): June 20

Refused to step down when asked (by order of the monophysite empress). Was deposed, charged with treason, forced into exile, and abdicated papacy (possibly by force). Venerated as a martyr for the orthodox faith.

59. Vigilius

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: March 29, 537

End of Reign: June 7, 555

Date of Death: June 7, 555

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Over 18 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): N/A

Had a controversial elevation to the papacy (including accusations of a secret arrangement with the monophysite empress to disavow the Council of Chalcedon). Restored churches and buildings in Rome. Faced great pressure and was arrested. He condemned the "Three Chapters" (condemnation of the Antiochenes).

60. Pelagius I

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: April 16, 556

End of Reign: March 3, 561

Date of Death: March 3, 561

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: "elderly"

Lived to Approx. Age: "old age"

Approx. Length of Reign: Nearly 5 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): N/A

Originally opposed condemnation of the Three Chapters, but later gave it his support (and thus faced much opposition). As a result, he faced difficulty finding bishops to consecrate him as pope. Pelagius rebuilt churches, redeemed captives, assisted the poor, and reorganized papal finances. [Note: Papal infallibility does not apply before one is chosen pope.]

61. John III

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: July 17, 561

End of Reign: July 13, 574

Date of Death: July 13, 574

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Just under 13 years

Prior Name (if different): Catelinus

Feast Day (if applicable): N/A

During his reign, he saw the invasion of Italy by the ruthless Lombards. Completed church of Sts. Philip and James. Praised for generosity and courage.

62. Benedict I

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: June 2, 575

End of Reign: July 30, 579

Date of Death: July 30, 579

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Over 4 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): N/A

His reign saw the most savage phase of the Lombard conquest. He attempted to relieve the starving (due to famine) and made significant appointments (including appointment of the future Gregory the Great).

63. Pelagius II

Birth Date: N/A

Beginning of Reign: November 26, 579

End of Reign: February 7, 590

Date of Death: February 7, 590

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: N/A

Lived to Approx. Age: N/A

Approx. Length of Reign: Over 10 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): N/A

He attempted to obtain protection from the Lombards, sought to end the schism over the condemnation of the Three Chapters, defended papal supremacy, and was an active builder. He is thought to be responsible for moving the high altar directly above the shrine of St. Peter. He succumbed to the plague which followed the famine and war.

64. St. Gregory I (the Great)

Birth Date: c. 540

Beginning of Reign: September 3, 590

End of Reign: March 12, 604

Date of Death: March 12, 604

Approx. Age at Beginning of Reign: 50

Lived to Approx. Age: 64

Approx. Length of Reign: Just over 13.5 years

Prior Name (if different):

Feast Day (if applicable): September 3 / March 12

Doctor of the Church, second pope (of two) to be called "great", and first pope who was a monk. Relative of two previous popes (Felix II and Agapitus). Converted his mansion to a monastery of which he was a monk until called from his severely ascetic life (which is blamed for the ruination of his health). After trying to refuse the papacy, he was reluctantly consecrated pope. He negotiated peace treaties with the Lombards, extended the patronage of the Roman See, promoted monasticism, enforced clerical celibacy, defended papal primacy, and wrote voluminous works. He is credited with codification of the Roman Canon and is associated with the sacred music treasure, Gregorian Chant.

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