Written by Guide Catholic
Pope Sisinnius (87º): Biography, Pontificate & Legacy
Pontificate: 15 January 708 –4 February 708 · Origin: Síria, Império Bizantino · Birth name: Sisinnius
Sisinnius was the 87th pope of the Catholic Church, reigning 15 January 708 –4 February 708 during late antiquity. Subject of the Rashidun Caliphate.
Who Was Pope Sisinnius?
Pope Sisinnius — 87º in the Catholic list — reigned 15 January 708 –4 February 708 during late antiquity. Subject of the Rashidun Caliphate. This Guide Catholic profile gathers background, major acts, and legacy so you can read Sisinnius beside neighboring pontiffs.
Early Life & Background
Born Sisinnius, he entered a world shaped by politics and piety very different from today's global Church.
Historical Context
Sisinnius (#undefined) governed amid imperial transition, invasions, and debates over Christ's nature — Rome's bishop increasingly seen as a guardian of orthodoxy for the wider Church.
Pontificate & Key Events
The pontificate (15 January 708 –4 February 708) centered on governance during late antiquity. Was of Syrian ethnicity.
Papal Acts & Achievements
Acts associated with Sisinnius (#87, 15 January 708 –4 February 708) 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
- 87th pope of the Catholic Church
- Pontificate: 15 January 708 –4 February 708
- Shepherded the Church during late antiquity
- Successor of St. Peter in the official Catholic list
Legacy in the Catholic Church
Sisinnius remains pope 87º in the Annuario Pontificio. Set against late antiquity, Sisinnius's choices show both the limits of any one pontiff and the continuity of the office he held.
Why Catholics Study This Pope Today
Catholics who open a page on Sisinnius usually want more than a birth-death line — they want to know what #87 did inside late antiquity. Begin with this documented note: Subject of the Rashidun Caliphate. Compare Sisinnius with the biographies of his predecessor and successor linked below to see reform, rupture, or quiet continuity.
Place in the Line of Succession
Sisinnius followed Pope John VII (86º, 1 March 705 –18 October 707) after a transition shaped by the politics and piety of their shared century. He was followed by Pope Constantine (88º, 25 March 708 –9 April 715), 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.