GIOVANNI of SALERNO (G. di CLUNY). — Born in Rome, he was leading an unworthy life, as he himself states, when in 939 he met St. Oddone of Cluny. This Saint, invited to Pavia by Ugo to reform the monastery of S. Pietro in Ciel d'Oro, took Giovanni with him, gave him the monastic habit, and shortly thereafter entrusted him to the care of the prior Ildebrando. On his return to Rome he was still accompanied by the new disciple, who then followed him also to Cluny.
Because of his virtues and abilities, G. was appointed prior of S. Paolo fuori le mura in Rome not long afterward. He is found there again upon Oddone’s return in the winter of 940, and likewise in 942. It is also known that during this period he left Rome briefly for a journey to Naples, where he settled certain matters concerning S. Paolo. He was later abbot of a monastery in Salerno, where he wrote the Vita Odonis, for which, in addition to his personal knowledge, he also drew upon the testimony of other disciples of the Saint. The year of his death is unknown.