Liberius

Liberius (Latin, Liberius; ? - September 24, 366) was the 36th Pope of the Catholic Church, between May 17 of 352 and September 24, 366, and the only one who is a Servant of God, that is, the first step for Canonization.

Biography

During his tenure, the persecution of Emperor Constantius II was at its height. The Emperor wanted to impose Arianism in the West and as Liberius opposed it, remaining firm and determined, in 355 he banished him to Berea in Thrace, where Liberius suffered all kinds of harassment for two years.

Many bishops sided with the Emperor against Pope Liberius. Then the Arians, masters of the situation and in total control of Rome, appointed the deacon Felix as the new pope instead of Liberio. But the people rejected this antipope and demanded from the Emperor the return and reinstatement of Liberius as the legitimate bishop of Rome. Constantius II realized that Felix would not be accepted and allowed Liberius to return to Rome in 357. The pope was received with great popular rejoicing. Apparently, Constantius II wanted Liberius and Felix to rule the Church together, but this formula for a double episcopate was not accepted by the people or by the Roman clergy. Félix retired to his house in Porto, where he lived until his death.

Due to the position taken by the majority of the bishops against him and the treatment he received during his exile, Pope Liberius appeared weak and insecure after his return to Rome, presenting somewhat ambiguous positions regarding the Arianism.

In 359 two councils of bishops were convened simultaneously, from the East and the West, held in Seleucia and Rimini respectively. Under imperial pressure, both councils adopted semi-Arian professions of faith. Liberius was not represented at any of these councils. When Constantius II died in 361, Liberius annulled the decrees taken at the Council of Rimini.

After the short reign of Emperor Julian, who restored paganism as the official religion of the Empire, Valentinian, a Christian monarch, ascended the throne and restored tranquility to the Church once again.

Liberius founded one of the four papal basilicas in Rome, initially known as the Liberian Basilica, but which in the following century would become Santa Maria La Mayor, the main Roman church dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

In 366 he admitted the return to the Church of the more moderate Arian sympathizers from the East. In that same year he died and his remains rest in the catacombs of Priscilla.

Public Worship

Catholic Church

He is the only Pope Servant of God, that is, the first step towards Canonization. He was served by Pope Sixtus V, in 1587.

Orthodox Church

He is considered a confessor and saint by the Orthodox churches, and a devotion to Patriarch Cyril I falls on him.