Innocent I

Innocent I was the 40th pope of the Catholic Church between 401 and 417.

He was from Albano. According to his contemporary, Jerome of Strydon, he was the son of the previous pope, Anastasius I, probably the only case in history in which a son succeeds his father in the papacy. He was elected on December 22, 401. He ordered that all serious cases had to be reviewed by him and in others he reserved the right to intervene. He exercised this right in many diverse matters, especially those related to liturgical celebrations.

His great friend John Chrysostom was expelled as Patriarch of Constantinople due to personal hostilities with Empress Aelia Eudoxia and the intrigues of Theophilus of Alexandria. Innocent I intervened to reinstate him to his headquarters.

He firmly confronted Pelagius and Pelagianism, with such authority and decision that Augustine of Hippo, when he found out about it, pronounced that famous phrase that has become a proverb: Roma locuta, finite cause ("When Rome has spoken, the cause is finished"). He also condemned Priscillianism.

On August 24, 410, the Visigothic king, Alaric, conquered and sacked Rome. Innocent was not in the city, but was at the imperial court in Ravenna trying to negotiate with Alaric. When he returned to Rome he did his best to repair the damage done by the Goths.

He died on March 12, 417, so his festival is celebrated on that day, although it dates back to the 13th century Until the XX century, it was commemorated on July 28. His successor was Zosimus.