May 26historicalUniversal
Eleuterus
Saint
Sanctified Life
130 — 189
"God has created all foods for our use."
A Greek Pope who served during a period of relative peace before the late 2nd-century persecutions. His path is linked to the earliest missions to Britain, as tradition holds he received a request from King Lucius for missionaries, planting the seeds of the faith at the edge of the known world.
Historical Legacy
Historical Journey
Life Locations
Historical Summary (Wikidata)
Pope Eleutherius (Greek: Ελευθέριος; died 24 May 189), also known as Eleutherus (Greek: Ελεύθερος), was the bishop of Rome from c. 174 until his death in 189. His pontificate is alternatively dated to 171–185 or 177–193. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.
He is linked to a number of legends, one of them credited him with receiving a letter from "Lucius, King of Britain".
As of 2025, he is the only Pope named Eleutherius.
Canonization: saint
Historical Depiction
Wikimedia Commons Source
Titles & Roles
• Catholic priest
Sacred Symbols
Life Journey
130—
Born in Greece
Born in Nicopolis; eventually moves to Rome.
174—
Papacy Begins
Succeeds Soter; faces the challenge of Montanism.
177—
Irenaeus Visit
Receives St. Irenaeus, who brings a letter from the martyrs of Lyon.
189—
Death
Dies in Rome; buried near St. Peter.