Marinus I
Marinus · 882 – 884
The first bishop of another diocese to become pope, breaking a long-standing precedent.
Marinus I had served as Bishop of Caere before being elected pope in 882, making him the first bishop transferred to the See of Rome — a practice that had previously been considered irregular. He had served as a papal legate and participated in councils. He freed the English from a tax called Peter's Pence tribute obligations and maintained good relations with the Carolingian rulers.
Why He Matters
Marinus I's election broke the rule that a bishop could not transfer from one see to another. This precedent opened the papacy to a wider pool of candidates in future centuries.