POPE #79
Pope St. Agatho
The 79th Pope of the Catholic Church
St. Agatho
Pope St. Agatho is remembered as one of the greatest defenders of the Catholic faith in the seventh century. During his pontificate, the Church finally resolved the long-running Monothelite controversy at the Sixth Ecumenical Council, also known as the Third Council of Constantinople (AD 680-681).
Agatho’s clear and orthodox teaching on the two wills of Christ became the theological foundation upon which the council based its definitive decree. His famous Dogmatic Letter to Emperor Constantine IV and the bishops of the East was received with great respect and declared to be in harmony with the teaching of the Apostles.
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.”
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Quick Facts
Overview
Pope St. Agatho is remembered as one of the greatest defenders of the Catholic faith in the seventh century. During his pontificate, the Church finally resolved the long-running Monothelite controversy at the Sixth Ecumenical Council, also known as the Third Council of Constantinople (AD 680-681).
Agatho’s clear and orthodox teaching on the two wills of Christ became the theological foundation upon which the council based its definitive decree. His famous Dogmatic Letter to Emperor Constantine IV and the bishops of the East was received with great respect and declared to be in harmony with the teaching of the Apostles.
His pontificate marked one of the greatest doctrinal triumphs in the history of the early Church.
Early Life
Agatho was born in: Sicily Ancient traditions differ on the exact location, with Palermo often suggested.
According to early accounts, he came from a wealthy Christian family but later embraced a life of simplicity and prayer.
Many traditions describe him as living for a time as a Benedictine monk, although the historical evidence is not entirely certain.
He became widely respected for: holiness, wisdom, humility, theological learning, charity toward the poor.
Becoming Pope
Following the death of Pope Donus, Agatho was elected Bishop of Rome.
He was consecrated on: June 27, AD 678 His election came during a period of renewed hope.
Unlike earlier emperors, Constantine IV sincerely desired to heal the division caused by Monothelitism.
The stage was set for an ecumenical council.
Preparing for the Sixth Ecumenical Council
Before the council met, Agatho gathered several regional synods in the West, including one in: Rome These assemblies carefully examined the Church’s traditional teaching concerning Christ.
The bishops unanimously affirmed that Jesus Christ possesses: two complete natures, two natural wills, two natural operations, perfectly united in the one Divine Person of the Son.
Agatho then summarized this teaching in a magnificent doctrinal letter addressed to the emperor and the Eastern bishops.
The Dogmatic Letter of St. Agatho
Agatho’s letter explained that: Christ’s humanity is complete.
Therefore Christ possesses a true human will.
His human will is never opposed to His divine will.
The two wills work together in perfect harmony.
Agatho also emphasized the apostolic authority of the Roman Church in preserving the true faith handed down from St. Peter.
The Sixth Ecumenical Council
The: Third Council of Constantinople (Sixth Ecumenical Council) met in: AD 680-681 The council carefully examined: Sacred Scripture, earlier councils, writings of the Fathers, Agatho’s doctrinal letter.
The bishops declared: “Peter has spoken through Agatho.” This famous statement expressed their recognition that Agatho’s teaching faithfully reflected the apostolic faith entrusted to St. Peter.
The council solemnly proclaimed that Christ possesses: two natural wills, two natural operations, without division, confusion, or opposition.
Condemnation of Monothelitism
The council condemned: Monothelitism, the imperial Ecthesis, the imperial Typos.
Several individuals were also condemned for promoting or failing to oppose the heresy, including: Sergius of Constantinople, Pyrrhus, Paul II, Peter of Constantinople, Cyrus of Alexandria, and Pope Honorius I (for negligence in allowing error to spread, as later clarified by Pope St. Leo II).
Thus ended one of the longest Christological controversies in Church history.
Defender of Papal Primacy
Agatho’s letter beautifully expressed the Church’s belief that the Roman See had faithfully preserved the apostolic faith.
He wrote that the Church founded upon St. Peter had never departed from orthodox doctrine in its official teaching.
The council accepted this profession as fully consistent with Catholic belief.
Care for the Church
Beyond theology, Agatho encouraged: missionary activity, care for the poor, peace between East and West, faithful liturgical worship, unity among bishops.
His gentle leadership won widespread respect throughout the Christian world.
Historical Context
Political Leaders Emperor Constantine IV Worked closely with Pope Agatho in convening the Sixth Ecumenical Council.
His cooperation helped restore peace between Rome and Constantinople.
The Church
During Agatho’s pontificate: the Sixth Ecumenical Council met, Monothelitism was condemned, Catholic Christology was definitively clarified, communion between East and West was strengthened.
Challenges
Ending Decades of Controversy Nearly fifty years of theological conflict required careful leadership and precise doctrine.
Agatho successfully guided the Church to a peaceful and orthodox resolution.
Preserving Unity
He sought reconciliation based upon truth rather than compromise.
Major Contributions
- Seventy-ninth Pope of the Catholic Church
- Wrote the Dogmatic Letter received by the Sixth Ecumenical Council
- Guided the Church during the Third Council of Constantinople
- Helped secure the definitive condemnation of Monothelitism
- Defended Christ’s two natural wills
- Strengthened communion between East and West
- Reinforced the apostolic authority of the Roman See
Interesting Facts
- St. Agatho is honored by both the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.
- His Dogmatic Letter became the principal Western theological document examined by the Sixth Ecumenical Council.
- The council famously declared, “Peter has spoken through Agatho.”
- His pontificate ended the Monothelite controversy that had troubled the Church for decades.
- He is remembered as one of the greatest doctrinal teachers among the early popes.
Legacy
Pope St. Agatho stands among the most influential doctrinal leaders in papal history. Through his wisdom, humility, and theological precision, he helped bring an end to one of the Church’s longest and most difficult Christological controversies. His teaching on Christ’s two natural wills safeguarded both the full divinity and the full humanity of Jesus, preserving the integrity of the mystery of the Incarnation.
The Third Council of Constantinople received Agatho’s doctrinal letter as a faithful expression of apostolic tradition, affirming that the teaching of the Roman See was in harmony with the faith handed down from St. Peter. His pontificate strengthened unity between East and West and demonstrated that authentic peace in the Church is achieved not through compromise but through fidelity to revealed truth.
Did You Know?
When the bishops gathered at the Sixth Ecumenical Council, they carefully examined Pope St. Agatho’s doctrinal letter alongside Sacred Scripture and the writings of the Church Fathers. Convinced that it faithfully expressed the apostolic faith, they proclaimed the memorable words: “Peter has spoken through Agatho.” This statement has long been cited as an important witness to the unique teaching authority of the Bishop of Rome when faithfully preserving the doctrine handed down from the Apostles.
Why St. Agatho Matters
Pope St. Agatho guided the Church to one of its greatest doctrinal victories. By clearly teaching that Jesus Christ possesses both a divine and a human will, he helped preserve the fullness of the mystery of the Incarnation and brought decades of theological conflict to an end. His leadership at the time of the Sixth Ecumenical Council demonstrated that authentic unity is always founded upon fidelity to the apostolic faith, making him one of the most significant theological popes of the early Church.
CatholicG33k Historical Highlight
“Peter Has Spoken Through Agatho”
One of the most famous moments in Church history occurred during the Third Council of Constantinople (AD 680-681). After studying Pope St. Agatho’s Dogmatic Letter, the assembled bishops declared, “Peter has spoken through Agatho.” They recognized that the pope’s teaching faithfully expressed the apostolic doctrine concerning Christ’s two natural wills – one divine and one human, united perfectly in the one Person of the Son of God. This declaration marked the end of the Monothelite controversy and remains a powerful testimony to the Church’s confidence that the successor of St. Peter has a unique responsibility to preserve and proclaim the faith handed down from the Apostles.
Sources and Further Study
Scripture References
- Matthew 16:18-19
- Luke 22:31-32
- John 1:14
- John 21:15-17
- Philippians 2:5-11
- Hebrews 2:17
- 1 Timothy 6:12
Primary Historical Sources
- Sacred Scripture (Douay-Rheims Bible)
- Acts of the Third Council of Constantinople (Sixth Ecumenical Council, AD 680-681)
- Pope St. Agatho, Dogmatic Letter to Emperor Constantine IV
- Liber Pontificalis
- Pope St. Leo II, confirmation of the Sixth Ecumenical Council
- St. Maximus the Confessor, theological writings (background to the controversy)
Timeline
Born in Sicily
Consecrated Pope
Holds Roman synods preparing for the council
Sends Dogmatic Letter to Constantinople
Sixth Ecumenical Council meets
Dies in Rome