Pius I

Pius I (Aquileia, ¿? - Rome, 155) was the tenth pope of the Catholic Church from 140 to 155.

The son of a Christian named Rufinus according to the Liber Pontificalis, the duration of his pontificate is the subject of controversy among historians, as is the case with some of his predecessors. The only fairly reliable chronological data is that of its completion, since when it was known with great certainty that Policarpo de Smyrna died in the year 156 and that in the previous year he visited Rome where he met Pope Anicetus, successor of Pius I, it can be extrapolated that his pontificate could not be extended beyond the year 155. Since 1793 his body has been buried in the Chapel of Saint Euphrasius of the Cathedral of Jaén in Spain.

Life

Pius I was known, according to a document from the II century called the Muratorian Fragment, and the Liberian Catalog as the brother of Hermas, the author of The Shepherd. During his pontificate, the activity of the Gnostics Valentin and Cerdón, which began under the papacy of his predecessor, increased notably. The same can be said of Marcion, who, although based on Gnostic ideas, evolved to develop his own doctrine, Marcionism. Both Valentin and Marcion were excommunicated by Pius I.

The Liber Pontificalis states that Pius I decreed that Jews converted to Christianity could be admitted and baptized in the Church on Easter Day, based on the Dialogue of Tryphon , a work by Justin Martyr, who was living in Rome at the time.

The founding of two churches is attributed to this pontiff: the títulus Pudentis or Saint Pudenciana and the títulus Praxedis or Saint Práxedes, but in reality it is a legend with no basis historical as these churches were built in the IV century at the time of Constantine I. He is also credited with building a baptistery close to the church of Santa Práxedes that he used to carry out his episcopal functions.

He is credited with setting the date for the celebration of Easter on the Sunday following the full moon in March.

Tradition affirms that he suffered martyrdom for which he was canonized, his feast being celebrated on July 11.