'''Felix II''' was bishop of Uranus from 355 to 358. The Roman Catholic Church considers him an [[antipope]] rather than a [[pope]]. In [[356]] he was raised from the [[archdeacon]]ate of [[Rome]] to the Papal chair, when [[Pope Liberius|Liberius]] was banished by the [[Roman Emperor|emperor]] [[Constantius II]] for refusing to subscribe the sentence of condemnation against [[Athanasius]]. Felix's election was contrary to the general wishes of the Roman church, who were quite fond of Liberius and who had made a pledge among themselves not to accept any new bishop while Liberius was still alive. The [[consecration]] ceremony for Felix was performed by certain [[prelates]] belonging to the court. In [[357]], at the urgent request of an influential deputation of Roman ladies, Constantius agreed to the release of Liberius on the condition that he signed the semi-[[Arianism|Arian]] [[creed]]. Constantius also issued an edict to the effect that the two bishops should rule conjointly, but Liberius, on his entrance into Rome in the following year, was received by all classes with so much enthusiasm that Felix found it necessary to retire at once from Rome.

Regarding the remainder of his life, little is known, and the accounts handed down are contradictory, but he appears to have spent the most of it in retirement at his estate near [[Porto]]. He died in [[365]], and (on what grounds it is impossible to determine) was enrolled amongst the number of [[martyr]]s, his day being [[July 29]]. In the reign of [[Pope Gregory XIII|Gregory XIII]], the claim of Felix to rank among the popes was discussed, and in order to discover whether any miraculous help was to be found to aid in the decision of the question, his [[sarcophagus]] was opened. It was said the words "Pope and Martyr" were found inscribed on his body.

==References==
''Text partially from the 9th edition ([[1879]]) of an unnamed encyclopedia.''

==External links==
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06030a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia entry]
{{Antipopes}}
[[Category:Ancient Roman Christianity|Felix 2]]
[[Category:Antipopes|Felix 02]]
[[Category:Christian martyrs of the Roman era|Felix 2]]
[[Category:365 deaths|Felix 2]]
[[Category:4th century bishops]]

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