Of African origin, Gelasius was born in Rome, and, prior to his election to the papacy, he was charged by his predecessor, Felix II, to compose ecclesiastical documents. As pope, Gelasius dealt firmly with threats to the Church of Rome from schismatics such as the adherents of Acacius. Gelasius proved unyielding in any attempts to compromise the papacy and the Church, and wrote, “There are two powers by which chiefly this world is ruled: the sacred authority of the priesthood and the authority of kings. And of these the authority of the peists is so much the weightier, as they must render before the tribunal of God an account even for the kings of men” (Catholic Encyclopedia).



Gelasius is credited with allowing for the reception of the Eucharist in both forms, although the purpose of this edict was as a way of detecting a group of subversives masquerading as Catholics – they believed wine to be sinful and would not partake, therefore giving themselves away. He also instituted the division of revenues into four parts: one for the poor, one to support the churches, one for the bishop, and the last for minor clergy.



Thought to have composed the Canon of the Scriptures, Gelasius also composed hymns, collects, and a Missal. He held a spirit of prayer, penance and study, and was called “a true father to the poor, dying empty-handed as a result of his lavish charity” (Catholic Encyclopedia).







Gelasius was the most prolific writer of the early Roman bishops. A great mass of correspondence of Gelasius has survived: forty-two letters according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, thirty-seven according to Father Bagan and fragments of forty-nine others, carefully archived in the Vatican, expounding to Eastern bishops the primacy of the see of Rome.







He was Pope from 1 March 492 – 21 November 496 (4 years, 265 days).



Catholic Encyclopedia. 2016.





