Pope St. Soter

Pope St. Soter governed the Roman Church from about 166 to 174. He is remembered above all for his charity, for a letter of St. Dionysius of Corinth, preserved by the historian Eusebius, praises the Roman Church under Soter for its long-standing custom of sending generous aid to churches in need and to Christians condemned to the mines, and thanks the pope for a fatherly letter of comfort that was read aloud in the Corinthian assembly.

This precious testimony shows the early bishops of Rome already exercising a care that reached far beyond their own city. Soter is also credited by tradition with affirming the Church's teaching on marriage and the sacraments against error. Venerated as a martyr in later tradition, though the historical basis is uncertain, he is remembered as a pastor whose generosity gave living witness to the Gospel. He is celebrated on 22 April.