“There was a great mortality in Rome, more serious than is recalled in the time of any other pontiff”. Plagues and diseases in the "Liber Pontificalis"

The aim of this article was to describe how were plagues and illnesses perceived by the authors Liber Pontificalis. In first part circumstances in which draft Pontificalis composed analysed. Attention given particularly disadvantages that affected population Italy 6th century. second devoted recorded When dealing with plague used several terms like: pestilentia, clades, mors. Usually presented as caused natural factors, but there also a fragment attributing eruption pestilence divine disfavor. third concerned diseases had individuals. majority cases where mentioned referred health popes. collection papal biographies descriptions other people: an emperor, bishop, soldier, clerk. Some appeared terminal all them person`s life.