Pope Anacletus
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Anacletus | |
---|---|
Birth name | Anacletus |
Papacy began | circa 79 |
Papacy ended | circa 88 |
Predecessor | Linus |
Successor | Clement I |
Born | Unknown Rome, Italy |
Died | circa 88 Rome, Italy |
Styles of Pope Anacletus |
|
Reference style | His Holiness |
Spoken style | Your Holiness |
Religious style | Holy Father |
Posthumous style | Saint |
Pope Anacletus (or Anencletus), was the third pope (after St Peter and St Linus). His papal name, which is Greek, signifies one who has been "called back" to service. He may have been the same person as Cletus. Eusebius, Irenaeus, Augustine and Optatus all suggest that both names refer to the same individual. On the other hand, the Liberian Catalogue and the Liber Pontificalis both state that Anacletus and Cletus are different persons.
He is traditionally cited as having been a Roman citizen, and is said to have been pope for twelve years, from 77 to 88, when he allegedly died as a martyr. However, the Vatican's 2003 Annuario Pontificio gives his dates as 80 to 92. Tradition further has it that he divided Rome into 25 parishes.
One of the few surviving records concerning Anacletus' papacy mention him having ordained an uncertain number of priests.[citation needed]
His remains are kept in Saint Linus Church in the Vatican.[citation needed] His memorial day is April 7.
[edit] Sources
- Richard P. McBrien, Lives of the Popes (Harper, 2000). ISBN 0-06-065304-3
- "Pope St. Anacletus" in the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia.
Preceded by Linus |
Pope 79–88 |
Succeeded by Clement I |