Pope Pelagius I (died 3 March 561) was thebishop of Rome from 556 to his death. A formerapocrisiarius toConstantinople, Pelagius I was electedpope as the candidate of EmperorJustinian I, a designation not well received in theWestern Church. Before his papacy, he opposed Justinian's efforts to condemn the "Three Chapters" in order to reconcile theological factions within the Church, but later adopted Justinian's position.
Pelagius was born into a noble family fromRome. His father, John, seems to have been vicar of one of the two civil districts into which Italy was then divided.[1]
Pelagius accompaniedPope Agapetus I toConstantinople and was appointedapocrisiarius. As such, Pelagius acquired great influence with EmperorJustinian I. He returned to Rome in 543.[1] In 545, whenPope Vigilius went to Constantinople on Justinian's orders, Pelagius stayed in Rome as the pope's representative.Totila, king of theGoths, had begun to blockade the city. Pelagius poured out his own fortune for the benefit of the famine-stricken people, and tried to induce the king to grant a truce. Though he failed, he afterwards induced Totila to spare the lives of the people when he captured Rome in December 546. Totila sent Pelagius to Constantinople in order to arrange a peace with Justinian I, but the emperor sent him back to say that his generalBelisarius was in command in Italy.[1]
Vigilius died on 7 June 555, and Pelagius waselected to succeed him aspope. Pelagius was theemperor's candidate, a designation not well received by the Western clergy and laity.[2] While before his ordination he opposed Justinian's efforts to condemn the "Three Chapters" in order to reconcile theological factions in the Church, afterwards Pelagius adopted Justinian's position.
Pelagius I's pontificate was undermined by rumors that he might have somehow been complicit in the death of Vigilius, and suspicion that his conceding to Justinian indicating a support formonophysitism. To overcome this he worked to maintain public order in Rome, and correct abuses among the clergy. He also labored on behalf of the poor and the victims of famine and war. In response to a request from the garrison commander at Civitavecchia, Pelagius directed Bishop Lawrence of that town, to provide chaplains for the army.[3] He is credited with the construction of theSanti Apostoli, Rome,[4] built to celebrate the complete victory ofNarses over theOstrogoths.
Kelly, J. N. D.; Walsh, Michael (2015).Dictionary of Popes. Oxford University Press.176
Ekonomou, Andrew J. 2007.Byzantine Rome and the Greek Popes: Eastern influences on Rome and the papacy from Gregory the Great to Zacharias, A.D. 590–752. Lexington Books.
