# Pope Gelasius I

_Bishop of Rome from 492 to 496_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/pope-gelasius-i
Last updated: 2026-11-03

> Pope Gelasius I was the bishop of Rome from 1 March 492 to his death on 21 November 496. Gelasius was a prolific author whose style placed him on the cusp between Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages. Some scholars have argued that his predecessor Felix III may have employed him to draft papal documents, although this is not certain.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 410 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q162135#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Africa ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q162135#P19))
- **Died:** 19 November 496 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q162135#P570))
- **Place of death:** Rome ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q162135#P20))
- **Occupation:** Catholic priest; writer; Catholic bishop ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q162135#P106))
- **Positions held:** Pope (2 March 492 – 19 November 496) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q162135#P39))

## About

During his pontificate he called for strict Catholic orthodoxy, more assertively demanded obedience to papal authority, and, consequently, increased the tension between the Western and Eastern Churches. Surprisingly, he also had cordial relations with the Ostrogoths, who were Arians (i.e., had a different view on the nature of Jesus), and therefore perceived as heretics from the perspective of Nicene Christians.

## Questions

**When was Pope Gelasius I born?**  
Pope Gelasius I was born on 410 in Africa.

**What positions has Pope Gelasius I held?**  
Positions held by Pope Gelasius I include: Pope (0492–0496).

## Related

- [Pope Telesphorus](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-telesphorus)
- [Pope Gregory XIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-gregory-xiii)
- [Pope Clement VII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-clement-vii)
- [Pope Pius I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-pius-i)
- [Pope Boniface I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-boniface-i)
- [Pope Agapetus I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-agapetus-i)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Pope Gelasius I](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Gelasius_I) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q162135](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q162135) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Pope Gelasius I.jpg by Artaud de Montor (1772–1849) (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pope_Gelasius_I.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Pope Gelasius I, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Pope Gelasius I.jpg — Artaud de Montor (1772–1849), Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Pope Gelasius I". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/pope-gelasius-i. Retrieved 5 November 2026.