The 3rd Pope.

Anakletos was born in 25 AD and lived in Athenae, now known as Athens, Greece, which was part of the Roman Empire. Per the “Liber Pontificalis”, his father was Emelianus and belonged to the quarter known as the Vicus Patrici. Along with his given name, which means “One who is called”, he also used the nickname Kletos (Cletus).

He was brought to the faith by Saint Peter, who he worked closely with, and ordained him as a priest.

He inherited a papacy with little formal rules or edicts and played a crucial role in the early development of the Catholic Church. He created parishes in Rome and assigned bishops for those 25 districts. This greatly helped each parish to establish churches and focus on the authoritative hierarchy as assigned by God. His commitment to expanding and strengthening the priesthood reflects his dedication to the mission of spreading the Gospel and nurturing the growing Christian community.

To ensure the Bishops had the experience they required, Anakletos decreed that at least 3 current Bishops must be on hand when a bishop took his orders. He also asked that they took their final orders in public as a way to help followers participate and understand.

He held the position of Bishop of Rome from 77 to 88 AD which was longer than his predecessors Peter and Linus in accordance with the lineage used by Saint Irenaeus. His papacy was marked by the harsh persecution of Catholics under the Roman Emperor Domitian.

Near the end of his papacy, he made changes to churches and burial sites, calling for the construction of a new church built to honor Saint Peter and reserved several spots in the nearby cemetery for martyrs as he believed they were witnesses to the atrocities that Catholics faced.

Like many early Christians, he courageously faced martyrdom for his unwavering faith, ending his papacy. His tomb is located near Saints Peter and Linus in the Vatican Necropolis field P, underneath Saint Peter’s Basilica.

His name is included in the Roman Canon of the Mass and his significance as a devoted follower of Christ and a shepherd of the early Church cannot be underestimated. Through his example, he continues to inspire believers to remain faithful in the face of adversity and to dedicate themselves to the mission of Christ.

His feast day is April 26.

For God’s Glory.