When Marcus Aurelius was Emperor, Christianity was not the state religion of Rome. St. Peter's Basilica would not be built for another millennium. The beautiful altars, ceilings and churches of the Christian faith were not part of the Roman Forum. No Pope wielded religious power in Rome when Marcus Aurelius was Caesar. (Follow this link to the current Pope's private study.) And, significantly, Marcus Aurelius was not as generous toward Christians as he was toward the Empire's poor. Believing they threatened the imperial way of life, Marcus Aurelius persecuted Christians.

In 176, thinking he would extend the Empire's northern border to the Wisla (Vistula) River, Marcus Aurelius returned to the Danube frontier. He was soon a sick man. He died of the plague in Vindobona (today's Vienna) on March 17, 180 and was buried in Hadrian's Masoleum (known today as the Castel Sant'Angelo). He never reached the Vistula.

One of his final acts dramatically harmed the Empire he had worked so hard to protect. Instead of adopting a capable man to succeed him - as the previous four Emperors had done - Marcus Aurelius appointed his son, Commodus. It was a terrible mistake.