Pope Anacletus (bornc. AD 16 – diedc. AD 92), also known asCletus, was thebishop of Rome, followingPeter andLinus. Anacletus served betweenc. AD 80 and his death,c. AD 92. Cletus was a Roman who, during his tenure as pope, ordained a number of priests and is traditionally credited with setting up about twenty-five parishes in Rome.[1] Although the precise dates of his pontificate are uncertain, he "died a martyr, perhaps about 91".[2] Cletus is mentioned in the Roman Canon of the mass; his feast day is April 26.
The name "Cletus" (Ancient Greek:Κλητος,romanized: Klētos) means "one who has been called", and "Anacletus" (Ancient Greek:Ἀνάκλητος,romanized: Anaklētos) means "one who has been called back". Also "Anencletus" (Ancient Greek:Ἀνάγκλητος) means "unimpeachable" or "blameless".[3]
As with many of the early popes, little is known of Anacletus' pontificate. Earlier historical records are inconsistent in their usage of the names Cletus, Anacletus, and Anencletus and in the placement of these names in the order of succession. Generally, the order used byIrenaeus is used today, wherein Cletus and Anacletus refer to the same person, who succeeded Linus and precededClement.[2] Traditionally, it was accepted that he reigned for twelve years, though the dates of that reign are questionable. The 2012Annuario Pontificio states, "For the first two centuries, the dates of the start and the end of thepontificate are uncertain", before placing Anacletus' pontificate from 80 to 92.[1] These are the years given byEusebius andJerome.[6][7] However, 76 to 88 are also frequently cited.[1][8]
According to tradition, Pope Anacletus divided Rome into twenty-fiveparishes. One of the few surviving records concerning his papacy mentions him as having ordained an uncertain number ofpriests.[2]
Statue of Pope Anacletus, from Church of San Cleto, in Rome
TheTridentine calendar reserved 26 April as the feast day of Saint Cletus, who the church honoured jointly withPope Marcellinus, and 13 July for solely Saint Anacletus. In 1960,Pope John XXIII, while keeping the 26 April feast, which mentions the saint under the name given to him in the Canon of the Mass, removed 13 July as a feast day for Saint Anacletus. The 14 February 1961 Instruction of the Congregation for Rites on the application to local calendars ofPope John XXIII'smotu proprioRubricarum instructum of 25 July 1960, decreed that "the feast of 'Saint Anacletus', on whatever ground and in whatever grade it is celebrated, is transferred to 26 April, under its right name, 'Saint Cletus'". Priests who celebrate Mass according to theGeneral Roman Calendar of 1954 keep the July 13th feastday; but the feast has been removed from theGeneral Roman Calendar since 1960, and as such is not kept even in the 1962 Missal.[10] Although the day of his death is unknown,[10] Saint Cletus continues to be listed in theRoman Martyrology among the saints of 26 April.[11]
^Jerome,Chronicon,AD 80, 2nd year ofTitus: "Cletus (also calledAnencletus) is appointed second bishop of the Roman church for 12 years."Chronicon,AD 92, 12th ofDomitian: "Clement presided as the 3rd bishop of the Church of Rome for nine years."
^Eusebius,Ecclesiastical History,VIII, 13. "In the second year of (Titus), Linus, who had been bishop of the church of Rome for twelve years, delivered his office toAnencletus."Ecclesiastical History,VIII, 15. "In the twelfth year of (Domitian) Clement succeeded Anencletus after the latter had been bishop of the church of Rome for twelve years."
^Reardon, Wendy J. (2004).The deaths of the popes : comprehensive accounts, including funerals, burial places and epitaphs. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co., Publishers. pp. 23–26.ISBN978-0-7864-1527-4.
^abCalendarium Romanum (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 1969), p. 121
^Martyrologium Romanum (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2001ISBN88-209-7210-7)
Donald Attwater and Catherine Rachel John,The Penguin Dictionary of Saints, 3rd edition, New York: Penguin Books, 1993.ISBN0-14-051312-4.
Louise Ropes Loomis,The Book of Popes (Liber Pontificalis). Merchantville, New Jersey: Evolution Publishing.ISBN1-889758-86-8 (Reprint of the 1916 edition.) (Ends withPope Pelagius, who reigned from 579 until 590. English translation with scholarly footnotes, and illustrations).
Richard P. McBrien,Lives of the Popes, (Harper, 2000).ISBN0-06-065304-3
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