Pope John V

Pope John V (Latin: Ioannes V; 635 – 2 August 686) was Pope from consecration 23 July 685 to his death in 686. He was the first pope of the Byzantine Papacy allowed to be consecrated by the Byzantine Emperor without prior consent, and the first in a line of ten consecutive popes of Eastern origin. His papacy was marked by reconciliation between the city of Rome and the Empire.

Early life

John was a Syrian by birth, born in the province of Antioch.

On account of his knowledge of Greek, he was named papal legate to the Third Council of Constantinople in 680.

Election

John V was the first pope of the Byzantine Papacy consecrated without the direct approval of the Byzantine Emperor.Constantine IV had done away with the requirement during the reign of Pope Benedict II, John V's predecessor, providing that "the one elected to the Apostolic See may be ordained pontiff from that moment and without delay". In a return to the "ancient practice", John V was selected "by the general population" of Rome. John was elected in July 685. Constantine IV doubtlessly trusted that the population and clergy of Rome had been sufficiently Easternized, and indeed the next ten pontiffs were of Eastern descent.