Pope Gelasius I

This profile of Pope Gelasius I is part of
Who's Who in Medieval History
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Helping to establish the Papacy as the foremost authority in western ecclesiastical affairs. He was the first pope to be titled "Vicar of Christ," and he is credited with putting an end to the Roman pagan festival Lupercalia.

Pope
Saint

Africa
Italy

Elected pope: March 1, 492
Died: Nov. 19, 496

Probably born in Africa, or at the very least of African descent, Pope Gelasius worked so closely with his predecessor, Felix III, that some scholars have confused the writings of the two. Upon the death of Felix, Gelasius was elected and succeeded to the papal chair almost immediately.

The Acacian Schism had begun during his predecessor's pontificate, and Gelasius dealt no less firmly with his opponents than Felix had. Throughout his four brief years as pope, Gelasius struggled with the Eastern Roman Emperor Anastasius I and Patriarch Euphemius of Constantinople over this issue, never achieving an understanding. At the same time, his relationship with King of the Ostrogoths Theodoric, an Arian Christian and thus a heretic, went fairly smoothly, which reveals a pragmatic side to the pope's outlook.

Gelasius is perhaps most famous for his stand on the primacy of the papacy; his insistence that the See of Rome owed its status not to Church policy but to the direct command of Jesus himself, who had named Peter the "rock of the Church," was influential in making Rome foremost among Christian bishoprics. He also recognized a separation of the duties of the Church and secular leadership, at the same time supporting the supremacy of the Church, whose responsibilities for men's souls surpassed life on earth.

Known for his charity as well as his piety, Gelasius saw to it that a full quarter of the funds reaped by the Church went to the poor, and he died personally broke, having given all his money to those in need.

Gelasius was an exceedingly learned pontiff and a prolific writer whose works would continue to influence papal policy long after his death. More than 100 treatises and letters, or fragments thereof, survive, providing a rare glimpse into fifth-century Roman history. He would be followed by Pope Anastasius II.

Portrait of Pope Gelasius I
The Acacian Schism

Pope Gelasius I on the Web

Catholic Encyclopedia: Pope St. Gelasius I
Substantive overview of Gelasius and his achievements as pope, by John F.X. Murphy.

Gelasius I
Some interesting facts at the Ecole Initiative by Karen Rae Keck.

St. Gelasius I
Accessible bio at Christ's Faithful People.

Gelasius I on Spiritual and Temporal Power, 494
Modern English translation from J. H. Robinson, Readings in European History, (Boston: Ginn, 1905), pp. 72-73; at Paul Halsall's Medieval Sourcebook.

Pope Gelasius I in Print

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Lives of the Popes: The Pontiffs from St. Peter to John Paul II
by Richard P. McBrien

Chronicle of the Popes: The Reign-by-Reign Record of the Papacy over 2000 Years
by P. G. Maxwell-Stuart

The Papacy
Hagiography

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