|
||
Name:
Felix III
Preceded by: Pope St. Simplicius (468 - 483)
Succeeded by: St. Gelasius I (492 - 496)
Roman Catholic Pope #48
Dates:
Born: ? (Rome, Italy)
Died: March 1, 492
Pope: March 13, 483 - March 1, 492 (8 years, 11 months)
Biography:
Felix III was a very authoritarian pope whose efforts to suppress the Monophysite heresy
helped exacerbate the growing schism between East and West, even going so far as to
excommunicate the patriarch of Constantinople, Acacius, for appointing a Monophysite bishop
to the see of Antioch to replace an orthodox bishop. This particular problem was the first
serious breach of unity between East and West, lasting until 519 when the rift was
partially healed - although Acacius always just ignored Felix's actions.
There is some confusion about his naming and he is commonly referred to as Felix III (II). This is because, at the time of his election, an earlier antipope by the name of Felix II had not yet been removed from the list of genuine popes. Thus, he had to take the name Felix III. However, since then the antipope has been removed and Felix's status is somewhat unusual.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
-->Popes and the Papacy: History, Doctrines, News About Popes
The pope may be the most visible and famous symbol of the Catholic Church. It is the office of the papacy and the assumed link back to the original apostles that differentiates Roman Catholicism from other Christian denominations. The office of the papacy is rather complicated and, much to the chagrin of believers, comes with a rather checkered past.Pope John Paul II: Biography, History, and Policies
John Paul II has been one of the longest-lived and most influential popes in the history of the Catholic Church. For good or for ill, his policies and personality have helped shape not only the current character of Catholicism but also the direction Catholicism will take for generations to come. Because of that, it's important to take the time to carefully consider what his policies have been and how they have affected Catholics around the world.Electing the Next Pope: Index of Resources on Papal Elections
Every human is mortal, and that includes popes. Some live and reign for extraordinarily long times while others only serve for a few days, but in the end all die and a new pope must be elected. How are papal elections run? A papal election is a process that is shrouded in secrecy; the details of any one election are supposed to be kept hidden, but general information is known.Book Reviews: Roman Catholic Popes, Papacy, History
Who or what is the pope? The title pope stems from the Greek word papas, which simply means "father." Early in Christian history it was used as a formal title expressing affectionate respect for any bishop and sometimes even priests. Today it continues to be used in Eastern Orthodox churches for the patriarch of Alexandria.
