Before clerical celibacy was universally enforced, the Church had several popes who were fathers — and in a few rare cases, their sons also became popes.
The most famous example is Pope Hormisdas (a widower before becoming a priest) and his son Pope Silverius. Their story is surprisingly tender: a father who served the Church faithfully, and a son who followed in his footsteps during a time of political upheaval.
Silverius’ papacy was short and tragic — he was exiled after refusing to compromise with imperial pressure. Yet his integrity made him a saint.
It’s a reminder that holiness isn’t about perfect circumstances or flawless family histories.
God works through real families, real wounds, and real human stories
