Pope Saint Simplicius

Memorial

• 10 March
• formerly 2 March

Profile

Son of Castinus. Held the pontificate during the end of the Roman Empire. He defended the Council of Chalcedon against the Monophysites heresy of the Eastern empire. Worked for the Italian people against barbarian invaders. Built four large churches in Rome, and brought some order and organization to the administration of the sacraments in the local churches, bringing the focus back to the sacrament rather than the place of its administration. Opposed Emperor Leo who wanted to officially make the Patriarch of Constantinople second only to the pope in authority. Worked to support orthodox Christianity against the Arianism promoted by King Odoacer.

Born

• at Tivoli, Italy

Papal Ascension

• 3 March 468

Died

• 10 March 483 of natural causes
• interred in Saint Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Catholic Encyclopedia, by J P Kirsch
• Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler
• Lives of the Saints, by Sabine Baring-Gould
• Medieval Religion Listserv, by John Dillon
• New Catholic Dictionary
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints

MLA Citation

• “Pope Saint Simplicius“. Saints.SQPN.com. 11 March 2013. Web. 20 May 2013. <>