John I

Elected in 523, he governed the Roman Church in an Italy held by Theodoric, Ostrogothic king and Arian, who had until then left Catholics in peace. The balance broke when the emperor Justin at Constantinople took measures against the Arians of the Empire. Theodoric compelled the pope to lead an embassy to have them lifted — a bishop of Rome sent to plead the cause of Arianism, a situation without precedent. John was received at Constantinople with extraordinary honours, crowned the emperor and obtained everything the embassy had come to ask. Theodoric, seeing chiefly a pope too well received by a rival emperor, had him arrested on his return to Ravenna. He died there in prison in 526, worn out. The Church honours him as a martyr. He is commemorated on 18 May.