John III, Pope

GIOVANNI III, POPE. — He belonged to the Roman aristocracy, being the son of the vir illustris Anastasio; it seems that he was nicknamed Catelinus. Elected pope upon the death of Pelagius I, he was consecrated on 17 July 561, having had to wait more than four months for confirmation from the emperor Justinian. He died on 13 July 574. During the struggle between Narses and the Roman people, G. adopted a conciliatory attitude, which must have earned him the people’s antipathy; for this reason, after returning from Naples, where he had followed the Byzantine general in order to urge him to return to Rome, he established his residence near the church of SS. Tiburtius and Valerian, in the cemetery of Praetextatus, not daring to return to the city, where Narses continued to oppress the people. During his pontificate, the Lombard invasion of Italy took place (568). G. promoted the veneration of the martyrs in the Christian cemeteries, restoring them and arranging for the pontifical administration of the Lateran to provide them with what was necessary for the Sunday celebrations. He was also responsible for completing and dedicating the Basilica of the Apostles.