I 'partiti' dei papi nel IV secolo

The struggle between Damasus and Ursinus in 366 A.D. is very helpful in order to detect ecclesiastical factions in Rome in the fourth century A. D. These factions have a close relationship with clerical community (deacons), Roman people, senatorial factions and Roman administration. While recent studies tried to identify senatorial factions and ecclesiastical factions, this paper suggests that Damasus'episcopal leadership (juridically recognized by the Roman administration which legalized Damasus'popular acclamation and disapproved Ursinus'turpe convicium) shiows that his pars was able to gain support also in different senatorial factions. 'Parties' and unity of the Christian populus set out the 'political' creteria of the Roman bishop.