Bridge from Peter to Apostolic Church

A disciple of St. Peter and St. Paul today's saint would take on the role of pope just a few short years after the beginning of Christianity.

St. Pope Clement I

Feast day: November 23
Born: ??
Death: 100
Patron of Boatmen; marble workers; sailors; sick children

The early life of Clement it is not recorded in history.  It is possible he is the companion who Paul wrote about in Philippians:

I ask you, my true comrade, to really help them. These women have struggled hard for the gospel with me, along with Clement and all my other fellow-workers, whose names are written in the book of life. (4:3)

The first information we have about Clement is somewhat confusing.  The historian Tertullian wrote that Peter appointed two bishops to assist him in his duties, Linus and Cletus.  Clement would be the next in line for the succession in the role as bishop of Rome.  Because of this differentiation of roles, Tertullian considers Clement to be St. Peter's successor.  Later historians took the more spiritual approach that shows the line proceeding through Linus and Cletus.

Regardless of the order of popes, Clement proved to be a leader for the Church.  He is known for his letter to the Corinthians.  Clement decisively stopped a dispute in which certain presbyters of the Corinthian church had been forcefully removed from office.  He asserted the authority of the presbyters as rulers of the church on the ground that the Apostles had appointed such.  This is considered one of the most ancient and precious documents surviving from early Christian times.


Clement most likely died a martyr in 102 AD.  In works of art, Saint Clement can be recognized by having an anchor at his side or tied to his neck.  He is considered the first Apostolic Father of the Church.