Pope Soter

Infobox Pope
English name=Saint Soter


birth_name=Soter
term_start=166
term_end=174
predecessor=Anicetus
successor=Eleuterus
birth_name=???
birth_date=???
birthplace=Fondi, Campania, Italy
dead=dead|death_date=174 (?)
deathplace=Rome, Italy| infobox popestyles
papal name=Pope Soter
dipstyle=His Holiness
offstyle=Your Holiness
relstyle=Holy Father
deathstyle=Saint|

Pope Saint Soter was a second-century Pope, born in Fondi, Campania, Italy, whose pontificate began, according to the Annuario Pontificio, in 162 or 168 and ending in 170 or 177, respectively. ["Annuario Pontificio" 2008 (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, ISBN 978-88-209-8021-4), p. 8*]

It is said fact|date=April 2008 that he was pope from 166 to 174, that he declared that marriage was valid only as a sacrament blessed by a priest, and that he inaugurated Easter as an annual festival in Rome.

The Catholic Encyclopedia says that nothing more is known of Pope Soter other than that Dionysius, Bishop of Corinth wrote him a letter, of which an extract is preserved, praising his charity and referring to a letter from him. [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03144c.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Caius and Soter, Saints and Popes] ]

Saint Soter's feast day is on April 22, as is that of Saint Caius. They are celebrated jointly in the Tridentine Calendar and in the successive versions of the General Roman Calendar until that of 1969, since when they are omitted. Both are mentioned under 22 April in the Roman Martyrology, the official list of recognized saints. The entry about Saint Soter is as follows: "At Rome, Saint Soter, Pope, whom Dionysius of Corinth praises for his outstanding charity towards needy exiled Christians who came to him, and towards those who had been condemned to the mines." ["Martyrologium Romanum" (Libreria Editrice Vaticana 2001 ISBN 88-209-7210-7)]

It has often been supposed that all the earliest Popes suffered martyrdom; but the Roman Martyrology does not give Pope Soter the title of Martyr.

The name Soter derives from the Greek word "σωτήρ" (sōtēr), meaning a saviour, a deliverer.

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