Pope Innocent endorses the condemnations of Pelagius…
417 CE
Pope Innocent endorses the condemnations of Pelagius and Celestius and excommunicates them on January 27, 417.
However, Pelagianism continues to draw supporters to Pelagius’ view of divine grace.
Innocent I dies on March 12 after a sixteen-year reign in which he has restored relations between the sees of Rome and Antioch, enforced celibacy of the clergy, and maintained the right of the bishop of Rome to judge appeals from other churches.
The first act of Innocent's successor, Zosimus, is to designate Bishop Patroclus of Arles papal vicar in Gaul, based on an alleged historical primacy of the see of Arles.
This act provokes a crisis affecting all the churches of southern Gaul.
The bishops of Narbonne, Marseille, and Vienne oppose Patroclus' elevation.
Zosimus threatens excommunication.
Simultaneously, Zosimus at first pronounces Pelagius innocent based on his Libellus fidei (“Brief Statement of Faith”), and sends a strongly worded letter to the African bishops on September 21, 417, accusing them of having acted precipitately in their condemnation.