Pope Felix IV

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Bishop of Rome
Detail of a heavily restored contemporary mosaic depicting Felix
ChurchCatholic Church
Papacy began12 July 526
Papacy ended22 September 530
PredecessorJohn I
SuccessorBoniface II
Personal details
Bornc. 489–490
Died22 September 530 (aged 40)
Sainthood
Feast day30 January
Other popes named Felix

Pope Felix IV (489/490 – 22 September 530) was the

Ostrogoth King Theodoric the Great, who had imprisoned Felix's predecessor, John I
.

Rise

Felix came from

Ostrogoth King Theodoric the Great. The papal electors acceded to the king's demands and chose Felix as pope. Felix's favor in the eyes of the king allowed him to press for greater benefits for the church.[1] However, Theodoric died later that year, allowing Felix to pursue his own policies in peace.[2]

Pontificate

Cosmas and Damian
.

Felix built the

and consecrated no fewer than thirty-nine bishops, during his short tenure of four years.[3] During Felix's pontificate, an imperial edict was passed granting that cases against clergy should be dealt with by the pope or a designated ecclesiastical court. Violation of this ruling would result in a fine, which proceeds were designated for the poor. Felix also defined church teaching on grace and free will in response to a request of Faustus of Riez, in Gaul, on opposing Semi-Pelagianism. As such, Felix approved the teachings of the Council of Orange in 529, which also explained original sin.[2]

Felix attempted to designate his own successor: Pope Boniface II. The reaction of the Senate was to forbid the discussion of a pope's successor during his lifetime or to accept such a nomination. The majority of the clergy reacted to Felix's activity by nominating Dioscorus as Pope. Only a minority supported Boniface. His feast day is celebrated on 30 January.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Kirsch, Johann Peter (1913). "Pope St. Felix IV" . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  2. ^ a b Coulombe, Vicars of Christ: A History of the Popes, MJF Books, p. 93
  3. ^ Monks of Ramsgate. “Felix IV”. Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 12 August 2018Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

External links

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Pope
526–530
Succeeded by