Written by Guide Catholic
Pope Romanus (114º): Biography, Pontificate & Legacy
Pontificate: 14 August 897 –November 897 · Origin: Gallese, Estados Papais · Birth name: Romanus
Romanus was the 114th pope of the Catholic Church, reigning 14 August 897 –November 897 during the early medieval papacy. Subject and later the sovereign of the Papal States.
Who Was Pope Romanus?
Romanus holds the 114º place among Roman pontiffs, with a recorded reign of 14 August 897 –November 897 inside the early medieval papacy. Subject and later the sovereign of the Papal States. What follows is a structured biography — early life, context, acts, and succession — written for Catholics who want Romanus in context.
Early Life & Background
Born Romanus, he entered a world shaped by politics and piety very different from today's global Church.
Historical Context
Romanus (#undefined) reigned while Western Roman order fractured, new kingdoms rose, and missionaries carried Christianity across Europe under papal encouragement or correction.
Pontificate & Key Events
The pontificate (14 August 897 –November 897) centered on governance during the early medieval papacy.
Papal Acts & Achievements
Acts associated with Romanus (#114, 14 August 897 –November 897) still draw historians and Catholics who want more than a one-line summary. His reign remains a link in the succession now counted at 267 popes.
Key Highlights
- 114th pope of the Catholic Church
- Pontificate: 14 August 897 –November 897
- Shepherded the Church during the early medieval papacy
- Successor of St. Peter in the official Catholic list
Legacy in the Catholic Church
Romanus remains pope 114º in the Annuario Pontificio. Set against the early medieval papacy, Romanus's choices show both the limits of any one pontiff and the continuity of the office he held.
Why Catholics Study This Pope Today
Reading Romanus as pope 114º (14 August 897 –November 897) is a way to study how Rome answered the crises of the early medieval papacy. Begin with this documented note: Subject and later the sovereign of the Papal States. Use the neighboring pontiff links below to test whether Romanus's reign looks unique or typical for the early medieval papacy.
Place in the Line of Succession
Romanus followed Pope Stephen VI (113º, 22 May 896 –14 August 897) after a transition shaped by the politics and piety of their shared century. He was followed by Pope Theodore II (115º, December 897 –20 December 897), whose biography continues the chain on Guide Catholic. For the full chronological map, see our complete list of all 267 popes — then read neighboring biographies for contrast, not only continuity.