Editing Pope Paul I

{{Short description|Head of the Catholic Church from 757 to 767}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Pope
| honorific-prefix = [[Pope Saint]]
| name = Paul I
| title = [[Bishop of Rome]]
| church = [[Catholic Church]]
| term_start = 29 May 757
| term_end = 28 June 767
| predecessor = [[Pope Stephen II|Stephen II]]
| successor = [[Pope Stephen III|Stephen III]]
| birth_name = 
| birth_date = 700
| birth_place = [[Rome]], [[Exarchate of Italy|Italy]], [[Eastern Roman Empire]]
| death_date = 28 June 767 (aged 66–67)
| death_place = [[Rome]], [[Papal States]]
| other = Paul
}}

'''Pope Paul I''' ({{langx|la|Paulus I}}; 700{{snd}}28 June 767) was the [[bishop of Rome]] and ruler of the emerging [[Papal States]] from 29 May 757 to his death. He first served as a [[Rome|Roman]] [[deacon]] and was frequently employed by his brother, [[Pope Stephen II]], in negotiations with the [[Lombard kings]].

==Rise==
Paul was a Roman aristocrat and member of the [[Orsini family]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/cyclopaediaofbib07mccl|page=[https://archive.org/details/cyclopaediaofbib07mccl/page/n848 831]|quote=Pope Paul I.|title=Cyclopaedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature|volume=VII|first1=John|last1=McClintock|first2=James|last2=Strong|date=April 15, 1882|publisher=Harper|via=Internet Archive}}</ref><ref>George L. Williams, ''Papal Genealogy'' (London 2004).</ref> He and his brother [[Pope Stephen II|Stephen]] had been educated for the priesthood at the [[Lateran Palace]]. Stephen became [[pope]] in 752. After Stephen's death on 26 April 757, Paul prevailed over a faction that wanted to make [[Archdeacon Theophylact]] pope and was [[papal selection before 1059|chosen]] to succeed his brother by the majority that wished a continuation of Stephen's policy.

==Pontificate==
[[File:SCeau Paul I pape 17109 (cropped).jpg|left|thumb|Seal of Paul I, with Greek text ΠΑΥΛΟΥ (''Paulou'', "of Paul")]]
Paul I's reign was dominated by relations with the [[Frankish kings|Frankish]] and [[Lombard kings]] and with the [[Eastern Roman emperor]].  He wrote to [[Pepin the Short]] that the Frankish alliance should be maintained unimpaired. Paul was likely concerned of the danger posed by the Lombard king [[Desiderius]]. The Lombards held the cities of [[Imola]], [[Osimo]], [[Bologna]], and [[Ancona]], which were claimed by the [[papacy]], and in 758 seized upon the duchies of [[duchy of Spoleto|Spoleto]] and [[duchy of Benevento|Benevento]].

On his return from suppressing a revolt in Benevento, Desiderius visited Rome and compelled Paul to write to Pepin asking him to concede all the Lombard claims. He promised to return Imola, but on condition that the pope should persuade Pepin to send back Lombard hostages held by the Franks. Paul agreed and sent a letter to Pepin.<ref name=kirsch>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11577a.htm|title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Pope Paul I|website=www.newadvent.org}}</ref> Pepin found it advisable to maintain good relations with Desiderius, and Paul apparently accomplished little by his double-dealing. Later, however, Pepin gave the pope some support and acted as arbiter between the Roman and Lombard claims.

In 765, papal privileges were restored in the duchies of Benevento and [[Tuscia|Tuscany]] and partially in Spoleto. Meanwhile, the alienation from the [[Eastern Roman Empire]] grew greater. On several occasions, especially in 759, Paul feared that the emperor would send an army against Rome. This meant that he lived in constant dread of Eastern Roman ambitions turning the Frankish influence in favor of the Lombards. This was actually attempted, but Pepin held to his original policy regarding Italy.

Paul died in Rome on 28 June 767.<ref name=kirsch/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Biography|Christianity|History}}
* {{Cite NIE|wstitle=Paul (popes)|display=Paul. The name of five popes. Paul I|year=1905 |short=x}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-rel|ca}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Pope Stephen II|Stephen II]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Pope]]|years=757–767}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Pope Stephen III|Stephen III]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Popes}}
{{Catholic saints}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Paul 01}}
[[Category:767 deaths]]
[[Category:Popes]]
[[Category:Papal saints]]
[[Category:8th-century Christian saints]]
[[Category:700 births]]
[[Category:8th-century popes]]
[[Category:Burials at St. Peter's Basilica]]