Siricius was the bishop of Rome from 384 until his death in 399. A native of Rome and son of Tiburtius, he served the church as a lector and deacon during the reign of Liberius before being elected unanimously to the papacy following the death of Damasus I. He is recognized for his active administration and for issuing the Directa decretal, which remains among the earliest fully preserved papal decrees concerning church discipline and baptismal practices.