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Why did St. Jerome leave Rome after Pope Damasus I died?
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St. Jerome
Saint Jerome, oil on canvas by JosĆ© de Ribera (Jusepe de Ribera, Lo Spagnoletto), c. 1638ā40; in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
St. Jerome left Rome in August 385 following the death of Pope Damasus I in December 384. During his time in Rome, Jerome had served as the Pope's secretary and adviser, but his presence and activities eventually provoked a significant backlash from the Roman community.12
His departure was driven by a "storm of criticism and calumny" that intensified after the Pope's death. This hostility stemmed from several factors:
- Advocacy for Asceticism: Jerome actively promoted the ascetic life and held classes for a circle of noble Roman widows and virgins, which drew scrutiny.1
- Social Criticism: He openly castigated the Roman clergy, as well as monks and virgins he deemed lax or hypocritical.1
- Scholarly Work: His revisions of the Gospel text also contributed to the negative reception he faced.1
Feeling alienated by this environment, which he referred to as "Babylon," Jerome left Rome in bitter indignation to travel to the Holy Land.1