Pope Eusebius

Who was Pope Eusebius?

Pope Eusebius was the head of the Catholic Church from 18 April to his death in 309 or 310.

His pontificate lasted only four months, after which, in consequence of disturbances within the Church which led to acts of violence, he was banished by the emperor Maxentius, who had been the ruler of Rome since 306, and had at first shown himself friendly to the Christians. The difficulty arose, as in the case of his predecessor Pope Marcellus I, out of his attitude toward the lapsi, which represented the milder standpoint.

Eusebius died in exile in Sicily and was buried in the catacomb of Callixtus. Pope Damasus I placed an epitaph of eight hexameters over his tomb; the epithet "martyr" contained in them is not to be taken in the strict sense.

His feast is celebrated on 26 September.