A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PAPACY AND THE ROMAN CHURCH

Mark (336)

Julius I (337-352)
In 340 Julius accepted two exiled bishops who had been excommunicated by Greek synods for a false reason, and this created more conflict between east and west.
 

Liberius (352-366)
 

antipope Felix II (355-366)

When Liberius refused to condemn Athansius, Emperor Constantius banished him. When Felix became bishop both the clergy and Roman people objected so much that the emperor was forced to bring back Liberius, but only on the condition that he sign a semi-Arian creed. Liberius agreed and for that was seen as a sympathiser of the Arian heretics, and the influential Hilary of Poitiers accused him of apostasy. Felix fled Rome because Liberius’ reception was so boisterous.
 

Damasus I (366-384)
 

antipope Ursinus (366-367)

In 366 two successors to Liberius were elected, by two rival factions. One group chose Ursinus, and one chose Damasus. Following three-day street fighting, the supporters of Ursinus locked themselves in the basilica of St Mary major (famous as the fourth church of Rome, later dedicated to the Virgin Mary, in about the year 435). To counter this, the supporters of Damasus tried to break down the door. Others made a hole in the roof and pelted the occupants with tiles and stones. When the door gave way, 137 followers of Ursinus were killed. The emperor sent Ursinus into exile, but his surviving followers still claimed he was the true bishop, and they caused further trouble over the next few years. Damasus, attempting to show his authority, claimed to be a “successor of St Peter”. He also renounced his wife and family.
 

Gratian, emperor of the western empire, did not want the traditional title of the High Priest of Rome and thought it better if it was held by the Bishop of Rome, and so Damasus became the first bishop to be called Pontifex Maximus.
 

At this time the Bishop of Rome was very rich and owned much land, as well as being a civil leader. An eyewitness, Ammianus Marcellinus, wrote, “For if that post is once gained, a man enjoys in peace a fortune assured by the generosity of matrons; he can give banquets, the luxury of which surpasses that of the emperor’s table”. Jerome, later to write the Vulgate translation of the Bible, who served as Damasus’ secretary, described his clerics as being like bridegrooms.
In 380 Christianity became the established religion of the Roman Empire. In 384 a synod in Rome denounced the use of torture.

Siricius (384-399)
Siricius wanted married priests to be celibate. He refused to pronounce a bishop, Bonosius, a heretic because he said he had no right to do so.
 

In 385 the church reformer Priscillian was accused of heresy by corrupt bishops Ithacus and Hydatius of Lusitania. The church condemned the “Priscillianists” and handed them over to the civil power for execution. This was the first instance of the execution of Christians by the church.
 

Anastasius I (399-401)
 

Innocent I (401-417)
Innocent wrote to the Council of Milevis, stating babies must be given communion, if not they would go straight to hell if they died, regardless of their baptism.
 

In 416 an edict by Theodorsius said only Christians were allowed to enlist into the Roman army. All Christians of earlier centuries refused to enter the army, the only exceptions were those converted while already enlisted.
 

Zosimus (417-418)
 

Boniface I (418-422)
 

antipope Eulalius (418-419)
 

Boniface was the son of a bishop. Factions within the clergy resulted in two elections, Boniface and Eulalius, forcing Emperor Honorius to intervene, the first emperor to do so. Both were ordered to temporarily leave Rome during another election, but Eulalius remained, until expelled following clashes involving his supporters. When the second election decided in favour of Boniface, Eulalius accepted the result.
 

Celestine I (422-432)
Celestine was thought to have been a near relative to Emperor Valentinian III. He wrote to churches in southern Gaul, rebuking them for following the eastern trend of the bishops wearing distinctive dress, and not normal everyday clothes.

Sixtus III (432-440)
Sixtus was put on trial and charged with seducing a nun. In his defence he said, “Let him who is without fault among you throw the first stone.”
 

Leo I (440-461)
Leo called himself the Pontifex Maximus, taking the emperor’s traditional religious title. He commended an emperor for torturing and executing “heretics” on behalf of the church. When Attila the Hun arrived to invade Rome, Leo went to meet him and apparently convinced him to retreat. He was not as successful in 455 when another invader, Genseric, sacked Rome.
 

Hilary (Hilarius) (461-468)
 

Simplicius (468-483)
 

Felix III (483-492)
Felix was listed as III because “antipope” Felix II was still on the official lists.
 

Gelasius I (492-496)
Gelasius, a son of a bishop, wrote to Bishops of Picenum, agreeing with his predecessor Innocent that babies must receive communion to be guaranteed salvation. He claimed “the See of blessed Peter has the right to loose what has been bound by the decisions of any bishops whatever”.
 

Anastasius II (496-498)
 

Symmachus (498-514)
 

antipope Lawrence (Laurentius) (501-505)
 

Symmachus and Lawrence fought one another for the office of Bishop of Rome, partly with violence, partly (by Symmachus) with well-forged documents. The rivalry was ended when Lawrence withdrew into private life. At this time all theological matters were tense, as Rome was controlled by Theodoric, an Ostrogoth ruler, who followed the beliefs of the Arians.