Silverius pope

Son of Pope Hormisdas — born before his father entered orders — he was elected in 536 under pressure from the Ostrogothic king Theodahad. Belisarius retook Rome for Justinian a few months later, and the empress Theodora demanded that Silverius restore the Monophysite patriarch of Constantinople whom a council had deposed. He refused. Forged letters were then produced accusing him of meaning to hand Rome to the Goths; Belisarius had him degraded, dressed in a monk's habit and deported. Vigilius, Theodora's man, was put in his place. Exiled to the islet of Palmarola off Ponza, Silverius died there in 537, of privation according to the older sources. The Church honours him as a martyr — not for the faith, but for not giving way.