Clement I, Saint (?-about A.D. 101), was elected pope about A.D. 92. He is traditionally regarded as the third in succession to Saint Peter as bishop of Rome. Clement is most famous for a letter he wrote to the church in Corinth, probably in A.D. 96. The letter strongly condemned pride and arrogance within the church and clarified the order of succession from bishop to presbyter (elder) to deacon (assistant). In later years, Clement’s letter was regarded as the first exercise of papal authority in the affairs of a Christian church outside Rome. But Clement’s concerns in writing the letter were spiritual and fraternal, not legal.
Clement was a citizen of Rome. He may have been the Clement who worked with Saint Paul at Philippi. Many legends surround Clement’s life. According to one, he was martyred by being thrown into the sea with an anchor tied to his neck. None of the legends can be verified. His feast day is November 23.
