Pope St. Paul I (93º): Biography, Pontificate & Legacy

Who Was Pope Paul I?

Pope Paul I — 93º in the Catholic list — reigned 29 May 757 –28 June 767 during late antiquity. (Eastern) Roman citizen, later the sovereign of the independent Papal States. This Guide Catholic profile gathers background, major acts, and legacy so you can read Paul I beside neighboring pontiffs. Catholics also honor him as a saint whose intercession remains part of living devotion.

Early Life & Background

Before election he was known as Paulus. Born circa 700 Rome, Exarchate of Ravenna, Eastern Roman Empire, he entered a world shaped by politics and piety very different from today's global Church.

Historical Context

Paul I (#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 (29 May 757 –28 June 767) centered on governance during late antiquity. Was of Roman ethnicity. Brother of Stephen II.

Papal Acts & Achievements

Acts associated with Paul I (#93, 29 May 757 –28 June 767) 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

• 93rd pope of the Catholic Church
• Pontificate: 29 May 757 –28 June 767
• Venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church
• Shepherded the Church during late antiquity
• Successor of St. Peter in the official Catholic list

Legacy in the Catholic Church

St. Paul I remains pope 93º in the Annuario Pontificio. The Church still points to Paul I's virtues for imitation. Set against late antiquity, Paul I's choices show both the limits of any one pontiff and the continuity of the office he held.

Why Catholics Study This Pope Today

If you only remember one modern question about Paul I, ask how his decisions served unity and truth under the pressures of late antiquity. Because the Church venerates Paul I, you may seek his intercession and check his feast in the Martyrology or local calendar. Begin with this documented note: (Eastern) Roman citizen, later the sovereign of the independent Papal States. Compare Paul I with the biographies of his predecessor and successor linked below to see reform, rupture, or quiet continuity.

Place in the Line of Succession

St. Paul I followed Pope Stephen II (92º, 26 March 752 –26 April 757) after a transition shaped by the politics and piety of their shared century. He was followed by Pope Stephen III (94º, 7 August 768 –24 January 772), 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.