Pope Sylvester is better known for the events that took place during his pontificate than for anything we know about his own life. He was ordained pope in 314, less than a year after the Roman Empire granted freedom to Christianity.

Legends accrued around Sylvester because he was pope when Constantine opened the empire to Christianity, an event that changed the Church forever. One story tells of Constantine suffering from leprosy until he converted to Christianity and was baptized by Sylvester, and thereupon cured. In gratitude, it is said that the emperor granted special privileges and lands to the pope and Church. These are likely fabrications, however, created to serve political ends.

Constantine did, however, give the Lateran palace in Rome to Sylvester, who used it as the seat from which he oversaw the Church in Rome. It has since become the Lateran Basilica, and remains the official seat of the pope, whose fundamental role is bishop of Rome.

He died in 335, and is depicted in this stained glass window (with mitre and crosier) in the Basilica with St. Helena as she discovers the true cross.

Pope St. Sylvester, who oversaw the growth of the Church into a world-wide institution, pray for us!