JOHN II, pope. — He was a Roman and bore the name Mercurius. Before his pontificate he held the title of S. Clemente and carried out notable works there, many of which still exist today. At the death of Boniface II (Oct. 532), after more than two months of struggles and intrigues, he was elected pope (2 Jan. 533) and was the first among the pontiffs to change his name to that of J. From King Athalaric he obtained a rescript confirming the senatus consultum issued in 530 against simoniacs, adding severe provisions for episcopal elections.
To resolve the Theopaschite controversy, stirred up by certain Scythian monks called “accenti,” Emperor Justinian in June 533 sent to J. a legation composed of the bishops of Ephesus and Philippi, which submitted to his judgment the profession of faith drawn up by the Emperor himself. After long negotiations and discussions with the imperial legation and with Cyrus and Eulogius, representatives of the monks, on 25 March 534 J. approved, with the consent of the bishops, the clergy, the Senate and the people of Rome, Justinian’s formula, which confirmed for Mary the title of “Mother of God” and declared that “the Son of God, made man and crucified, is one person of the most holy Trinity.”
He died on 8 May 535.