Innocent I, Saint

Innocent I, Saint, d. 417, pope (401–17), an Italian; successor of St. Anastasius I. A powerful champion of papal supremacy in the entire Church, he upheld St. John Chrysostom and condemned Pelagius. His 36 surviving decretal letters are an important source for canon law. He vainly tried to prevent the sack of Rome in 410 by the Visigoths under Alaric I. St. Innocent was succeeded by St. Zosimus. Feast: July 28.

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