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Deusdedit served as pope from 19 October 615 to 8 November 618. Deusdedit and Adeodato both mean “given by God.” He was a priest for 40 years at the time of his election. Adeodato served in an era when there were two ‘parties’ that vied for papal election – those that favored selecting monks and those who favored priests – He therefore promoted clergy to office rather than monastics. The Liber Pontificalis recorded “he greatly loved the clergy.” (the Liber Pontificalis, is a collection of papal biographies form St. Peter to Pius II (1464), a collection stated in the 6th century). It is said that on his deathbed he made a bequest to all the clergy of Rome, perhaps a year’s stipend, the first such bequest recorded. Little information survives about Deusdedit’s pontificate. Rome suffered an earthquake during his years as pope, followed by and outbreak of disease. The Lombards invaded and the Byzantine army mutinied because lack of pay and the exarch at Ravenna and some officials, including the exarch, were butchered. Pope Honorius I (625-638) composed his epitaph which described Deusdedit as “simple, devout wise, and shrewd.” The Catholic Encyclopedia cites Deuisdedit’s charity and zeal. Deusdedit is thought to be the first pope that used leaden seals on papal documents (bullae). Deusdedit/Adeodato and Zosimo (417-418, f.d. 26 December) are two of the more obscure popes to have been commemorated on Vatican City stamps (2018). Czech artist Marina Richterova’s commentary about her stamp designs sheds a bit more information about the symbolism incorporated into these two issues. References: • J. N. D. Kelly, Oxford Dictionary of Saints • Deusdedit Entry in The Catholic Encyclopedia Article Links: • Michael Lamothe, "Creating Stamps for Obscure Popes: Sts Adeodato & Zosimo” Vatican Notes, Vol. 67, No. 380, pp. 32-35 (2019) |
