April 24, 858 - Nicholas the Great

Pope St. Nicholas I, public domain. Wikimedia Commons.

 Nicholas the Great, also known as Pope Nicholas I, was consecrated on April 24, 858. He served as pope from 858 to 867 and is remembered as one of the most influential early medieval popes. His leadership helped strengthen the authority of the papacy during a time when kings and regional rulers frequently attempted to control church decisions. One of his most famous disputes during his papacy included Lothair II of Lotharingia. Similar to King Henry VIII, King Lothair desired a divorce from his wife Teutberga so that he could marry his mistress Waldrada. Numerous bishops supported the king’s request and approved the annulment at the Council of Metz in 863, but Pope Nicholas rejected their decision and dissolved the Council. Because of actions like this, Nicholas strongly emphasized the authority of the papacy over church councils and secular rulers. He also played an integral role in the rising tensions between the Western and Eastern churches that eventually led to the Great Schism of 1054.

Medieval rulers often attempted to influence church decisions, especially regarding marriage and power, but Nicholas I helped establish the idea that the pope had final authority in major church disputes, which continued to shape Christian history for centuries. He also illustrated the importance of moral accountability by resisting pressure from a powerful king in order to defend what he believed was the proper Christian teaching on marriage.