Written by Guide Catholic
Pope Theodore II (115º): Biography, Pontificate & Legacy
Pontificate: December 897 –20 December 897 · Origin: Rome, Estados Papais · Birth name: Theodorus Secundus
Theodore II was the 115th pope of the Catholic Church, reigning December 897 –20 December 897 during the early medieval papacy. Subject and later the sovereign of the Papal States.
Who Was Pope Theodore II?
Pope Theodore II — 115º in the Catholic list — reigned December 897 –20 December 897 during the early medieval papacy. Subject and later the sovereign of the Papal States. This Guide Catholic profile gathers background, major acts, and legacy so you can read Theodore II beside neighboring pontiffs.
Early Life & Background
Before election he was known as Theodorus. Born circa 840 Rome, Papal States, he entered a world shaped by politics and piety very different from today's global Church.
Historical Context
Theodore II (#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 (December 897 –20 December 897) centered on governance during the early medieval papacy. Was of Greek ethnicity.
Papal Acts & Achievements
Acts associated with Theodore II (#115, December 897 –20 December 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
- 115th pope of the Catholic Church
- Pontificate: December 897 –20 December 897
- Shepherded the Church during the early medieval papacy
- Successor of St. Peter in the official Catholic list
Legacy in the Catholic Church
Theodore II remains pope 115º in the Annuario Pontificio. Set against the early medieval papacy, Theodore II's choices show both the limits of any one pontiff and the continuity of the office he held.
Why Catholics Study This Pope Today
Place Theodore II on your mental map: 115º successor of Peter, reigning December 897 –20 December 897, formed by 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 Theodore II's reign looks unique or typical for the early medieval papacy.
Place in the Line of Succession
Theodore II followed Pope Romanus (114º, 14 August 897 –November 897) after a transition shaped by the politics and piety of their shared century. He was followed by Pope John IX (116º, 18 January 898 –5 January 900), 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.