GIOVANNI II, POPE. - He was a Roman and was called Mercurius. Before his pontificate he held the title of S. Clemente, where he carried out notable works, many of which still survive. At the death of Bonifacio 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 G. From King Atalarico he obtained a rescript confirming the senatus consultum issued in 530 against simoniacs, adding
strict provisions concerning episcopal elections. To settle the Theopaschite controversy, raised by certain Scythian monks called “acemeti,” Emperor Giustiniano in June 533 sent to G. a legation composed of the bishops of Efeso and Filippi, submitting to his judgment the profession of faith drawn up by the Emperor himself. After lengthy negotiations and discussions with the imperial legation and with Ciro and Eulogio, representatives of the monks, on 25 March 534
G., with the consent of the bishops, clergy, Senate, and people of Rome, approved Giustiniano’s formula, which confirmed for Maria S. the title of “Mother of God” and declared that “the Son of God, made man and crucified, is one person of the most holy and consubstantial Trinity.” He died 18 May 535.
pp. 320-30; PL 66, 13-31; MGH, Epist., III, pp. 45-54; Lib. Pont., I, pp. 108 and 285 ff. Studies: L. Duchesne, L'Eglise au VIe siècle, Parigi 1925, p. 146; O. Bertolini, Roma di fronte a Bisanzio e ai Longobardi, Bologna 1941, pp. 108 ff., 111-13, 117; H. Grisar, Roma alla fine del mondo antico, Roma 1943, pp. 58-60 and passim (v. indice). Stanislao Majarelli