Pope Conon (Greek:Κόνων,romanized: Konōn; died 21 September 687) was thebishop of Rome from 21 October 686 to his death on 21 September 687. He had been put forward as a compromise candidate, there being a conflict between the two factions resident inRome — the military and the clerical. He consecrated the Irish missionarySt Kilian and commissioned him to preach inFranconia.
According to theLiber pontificalis, Conon was a Greek, the son of an officer from theThracesian Theme. He was educated inSicily, where his father may have been posted during the stay ofConstans II, and was later ordained a priest at Rome. He may have been among the manySicilian clergy in Rome, at that time, due to Muslim raids on Sicily in the mid-7th century.[1]
Conon's age, venerable appearance, and simple character caused the clergy and soldiery of Rome, who were in disagreement, to put aside their respective candidates and to elect him as pope.Andrew J. Ekonomou says that due to an "increasing influx" of Easterners into Rome at that time, that the Syrian, Greek, and Greco-Sicilian population together outnumbered the Latins. This would also have increased Conon's electability.[2] Conon was consecrated on 21 October 686 after notice of his election had been sent to theexarch of Ravenna, or after it had been confirmed by him.[3]
Conon received the Irish missionariesKilian and his companions, consecrated Kilian bishop, and commissioned him and the others to preach the faith in Franconia. (Vita S. Kiliani, in Canisius, Lect. Antiquæ, III, 175–180.) He was in favour with EmperorJustinian II, who informed him that he had recovered the Acts of theThird Council of Constantinople, by which, the emperor wrote, it was his intention to abide. Justinian also remitted certain taxes and dues owing to the imperialexchequer from several papal patrimonies.[3]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Pope Conon".Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
