PASQUALE I, POPE, saint. - He was elected pope the day after the death of Stefano V (25 Jan. 817) and consecrated on the 26th. He had previously been abbot of the monastery of S. Stefano Maggiore in the Vatican. During his pontificate, Ludovico il Pio confirmed the possession of extensive territories claimed by the Roman Church in Italy, namely: Rome, Roman Tuscia, Perugia and its surroundings, Campania, Tivoli, the Exarchate of Ravenna, the Pentapolis, Sabina, and Lombard Tuscia.
In the territories beyond the Liri and in southern Italy, included in the privilege, the Holy See in fact possessed only nominal rights. The emperor allowed the pope freely to exercise his sovereignty, unless acts of violence or injustice should occur. Moreover, he guaranteed full freedom in papal elections, provided that they were celebrated canonically and unanimously. The man elected would be bound only to send emissaries to the imperial court, who would request the renewal of the pact concluded with Ludovico il Pio (L. Duchesne-P. Fabre, Le Liber censuum, I, Paris 1889, pp. 363-65).
Lotario I, whom P. consecrated emperor on 5 Apr. 823, wished to perform an act of authority by pronouncing a judgment in favour of Ingoaldo, abbot of Farfa, who denied any dependence upon the Holy See. Lotario intervened again following the murder of the primicerius Teo-
(fot. Anderson)
PASQUALE I, POPE, saint - P. I with the square nimbus, kneeling at the feet of the Virgin enthroned. Detail of the apse mosaic in S. Maria in Domnica (817-24) - Rome.
Theodore and the nomenclator Leone were murdered (823), and the Pope was forced to swear before an assembly of bishops that he was innocent of the death of his enemies. P. died on 11 Feb. 824 and is venerated as a saint (feast day 14 May).