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The Catholic Church teaches that Pope St. Cletus (also known as Anacletus or Anencletus) was the third bishop of Rome and assumes that he died a martyr in Rome. In practice, we really know nothing about Pope Cletus and can not even be sure whether a person of that name ever lived.

Francis A. Sullivan SJ (From Apostles to Bishops) says that most scholars are of the opinion that, in spite of Church tradition, the early church of Rome was led by a group of presbyters, and that bishops were not appointed to the church in Rome until later in the second century. In other words, there can have been no Pope Cletus (Anacletus or Anencletus), although it is possible there was a presbyter of than name.

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11y ago

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