Pope Felix IV (489/490 – 22 September 530) was thebishop of Rome from 12 July 526 to his death on 22 September 530. He was the chosen candidate ofOstrogoth KingTheodoric the Great, who had imprisoned Felix's predecessor,John I.
Felix came fromSamnium, the son of Castorius. He was elected after a gap of nearly two months after the death of John I, who had died in prison in Ravenna, having completed a diplomatic mission to Constantinople on behalf of theOstrogoth KingTheodoric the Great. The papal electors acceded to the king's demands and chose Felix as pope. Felix's favor in the eyes of the king allowed him to press for greater benefits for the church.[1] However, Theodoric died later that year, allowing Felix to pursue his own policies in peace.[2]
Felix built theSanti Cosma e Damiano in theImperial forums on land donated by QueenAmalasuntha,[1]and consecrated no fewer than thirty-nine bishops, during his short tenure of four years.[3] During Felix's pontificate, an imperial edict was passed granting that cases against clergy should be dealt with by the pope or a designated ecclesiastical court. Violation of this ruling would result in a fine, the proceeds of which were designated for the poor. Felix also defined church teaching on grace and free will in response to a request ofFaustus of Riez, inGaul, on opposingSemi-Pelagianism. As such, Felix approved the teachings of theCouncil of Orange in 529, which also explainedoriginal sin.[2]
Felix attempted to designate his own successor:Pope Boniface II. The reaction of the Senate was to forbid the discussion of a pope's successor during his lifetime or to accept such a nomination. The majority of the clergy reacted to Felix's activity by nominatingDioscorus as Pope. Only a minority supported Boniface. His feast day is celebrated on 30 January.[1] He remains the most recent pope to bear thepontifical name "Felix".[a]
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