John IV, Pope

GIOVANNI IV, POPE. - Of a Dalmatian family, son of a scholasticus, he succeeded the aged pontiff Severino in 640, while relations between Rome and the East were highly strained because of the usual theological disputes; he proved uncompromising in matters of faith, obtaining from the emperor Erachio a letter of justification concerning the echesis; after Erachio’s death, conciliatory currents prevailed at the court of Constantinople, while G. IV continued energetically to defend the orthodox doctrinal position; he died on 12 Oct. 642 and was buried in

S. Pietro. He brought to Rome relics of martyrs from Dalmazia, and concerned himself with the ransom of Istrians and Dalmati who had fallen into slavery during the incursions of the Slavs.