Pope Saint Cletus was the third pope after Peter and Linus. The “Liber Pontificalis” says that his father was Emelianus and that Cletus was a Roman by birth, and belonged to the quarter known as the Vicus Patrici. Early Church writers often use more than one name for him. Sometimes he’s called Cletus. Other times he’s called Anacletus, or Anencletus. Pope Saint Cletus ordained several priests while he was pope. He is credited with setting up about twenty-five parishes in Rome. He was the pope for twelve years from 76 to 89. He is mentioned in the Roman Canon of the Mass.
Right around the beginning of St. Cletus’ papacy, the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were destroyed and buried after the eruption of Moun Vesuvius. He was martyred in the persecutions of Domitian. He was buried near St. Linus in the Vatican and his relics are still there.