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Vigilius | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Rome | |
| Church | Chalcedonian Christianity |
| Papacy began | 29 March 537 |
| Papacy ended | 7 June 555 |
| Predecessor | Silverius |
| Successor | Pelagius I |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 497 |
| Died | 7 June 555 (aged 57–58) Syracuse, Sicily, Eastern Roman Empire |
Pope Vigilius (died 7 June 555) was the bishop of Rome from 29 March 537 to his death. He is considered the first pope of the Byzantine papacy. Born into Roman aristocracy, Vigilius served as a deacon and papal apocrisiarius in Constantinople. He allied with Empress Theodora, who sought his help to establish Monophysitism, and was made pope after the deposition of Silverius. After he refused to sign Emperor Justinian I's edict condemning the Three Chapters, Vigilius was arrested in 545 and taken to Constantinople. He died in Sicily while returning to Rome.