What is virtuous pagan?

In the context of Roman Catholic theology, a virtuous pagan is a person who lived a moral and upright life but was not a practicing Christian. This concept recognizes that moral behavior and living in accordance with nature is not limited to those who follow a particular religion or belief system. The concept of virtuous pagans has been used to reconcile the idea of non-Christians with the Christian belief in salvation, suggesting that those who lead good lives may still be saved by God's grace. Some well-known virtuous pagans in history include Aristotle, Socrates, and Virgil.