Pope Stephen III

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Stephen III
StephenIII.jpg
Papacy began August 7, 768
Papacy ended January 24, 772
Predecessor Paul I
Successor Adrian I
Personal details
Birth name ???
Born ?? 720
Sicily, Italy
Died January 24, 772
?
Other Popes named Stephen

Pope Stephen III, (720 – January 24, 772), pope August 1 or August 7, 768 – January 24, 772, was a native of Sicily.

He came to Rome during the pontificate of Gregory III and gradually rose to high office in the service of successive popes.

After the deposition of Antipopes Constantine II and Philip, Stephen was chosen to succeed him. Fragmentary records are preserved of the council (April 769) at which the degradation of Constantine was completed, certain new arrangements for papal elections made, and the practice of devotion to icons confirmed (see iconoclasm). The politics of Stephen's reign are obscure, but he inclined to alliance between the Papacy and the Lombards rather than to the Franks. He was succeeded by Adrian I.

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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Paul I
Pope
768–772
Succeeded by
Adrian I