St. Boniface I

Boniface · 418 – 422

Settled a disputed papal election with imperial help and defended Rome's authority over the churches of Illyricum.

Boniface was an elderly priest when he was elected pope in 418, but a rival faction chose the archdeacon Eulalius on the same day. Both were consecrated, and Rome descended into chaos. Emperor Honorius initially backed Eulalius but reversed course when Eulalius defied an order to stay out of Rome during Easter. Boniface was confirmed and governed for about four years. He vigorously defended papal jurisdiction over the churches of Illyricum against Constantinople's encroachment and obtained a decree from Honorius affirming Rome's right to settle disputed episcopal elections. He died in 422.

A Messy Beginning

Double elections were an ugly reality of the early papacy. Boniface's legitimacy was secured not by theological argument but by his rival's political miscalculation. Once confirmed, Boniface worked to make sure future elections wouldn't produce the same chaos.