Pope Stephen I (Greek: Στέφανος Α΄ Latin: Stephanus I) was the Bishop of Rome from 12 May 254 to his death on 2 August 257.

During the Decian persecution some Christians had purchased certificates attesting that they had made the requisite sacrifices to the Roman gods.

[1] He is also mentioned as having insisted on the restoration of the bishops of León and Astorga, who had been deposed for unfaithfulness during the persecution but afterwards had repented.

[1] The Depositio episcoporum of 354 does not speak of Pope Stephen I as a martyr and he is not celebrated as such by the Catholic Church,[3] in spite of the account in the Golden Legend that in 257 Emperor Valerian resumed the persecution of Christians.

Stephen was sitting on his pontifical throne celebrating Mass for his congregation when the emperor's men came and beheaded him on 2 August 257.