Lentorama 2010: Two Millennia of Pointy Hats

Day 8: Liberius (352-366)

Liberius is the earliest serving pope who isn't a saint, at least to Western Catholics. I was curious how he didn't make the cut while everyone else before him - many with little to no surviving information about their lives or term as pope - did.

As with most of these early popes, there's not a lot of detail as to his term. One major item was his stand against the emperor regarding Athanasius, a noted theologian who argued against Arianism. The emperor wanted all the bishops to sign a condemnation of Athanasius, and Liberius was among a small group that refused. For their trouble, the emperor (Constantius II) exiled the non-signers to Thrace. This led to the appointment of an antipope, Felix II, who would be deposed by the Roman people when Liberius was finally allowed to return to Rome. All in all an interesting story, but not enough to get sainted.

What probably doesn't help Liberius is that he wasn't smart enough to get martyred, or at least have someone spread the idea that he was martyred. Another example of the benefits of good PR.