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Adrian III
pope
SaintResearchedPapal StatesBenedictinesPre-congregation
Feast: 8 July (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Born
—
unknown
Died
885
verified
Beatified
—
not needed: before formal processes
Canonised
By tradition
recognised before formal processes began
Who they were
Adrian III, of Roman family, was elected pope early in 884 and died near Modena in the summer of 885, on his way to the diet called by Charles the Fat to settle the succession to the Empire.
He was buried in the monastery of Nonantola, where he has been venerated ever since; Leo XIII allowed the clergy of Rome and Modena to celebrate his Mass and office.
The miracles
His long-standing veneration was confirmed by Pope Leo XIII.
Why that counted as sanctity
A pope who died in the service of the Church and has been venerated ever since.
Sources
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - Pope St. Adrian III
- Wikidata Q172398 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Pope Adrian III (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.