other predecessor successor death_date birth_place death_place image_size name birth_date term_start image article_title term_end birth_name type
john boniface ii agapetus i 535 5 8 y rome rome 220px john ii 470 2 january 533 johannes ii.jpg pope john ii
 8 may 535 mercurius pope
pope john ii

pope john ii -lrb- ; 470 -- 8 may 535 -rrb- was pope from 2 january 533 to his death in 535 .
born mercurius in rome in 470 , the son of a certain projectus , he became a priest of the basilica di san clemente on the caelian hill .
he was made pope on 2 january 533 .
the basilica of st. clement still retains several memorials of `` johannes surnamed mercurius '' .
presbyter mercurius is found on a fragment of an ancient ciborium , and several of the marble slabs which enclose the schola cantorum bear upon them , in the style of the sixth century , the monogram of johannes .
he was the first pope to adopt a new name -lrb- regnal or papal name -rrb- upon elevation to the papacy , as his theophoric birth name honoured the roman god mercury .
at this period , simony -lrb- the purchase or sale of church offices or preferment -rrb- in the election of popes and bishops was rife among clergy and laity .
during the `` sede vacante '' of over two months , `` shameless trafficking in sacred things was indulged in .
even sacred vessels were exposed for sale '' .
the matter had been brought before the senate , and laid before the arian ostrogothic court at ravenna .
the last decree -lrb- `` senatus consultum '' -rrb- which the roman senate is known to have issued , passed under boniface ii , was directed against simony in papal elections .
the decree was confirmed by athalaric , king of the ostrogoths .
he ordered it to be engraved on marble and to be placed in the atrium of st. peter 's basilica in 533 .
by one of athalaric 's own additions to the decree , it was decided that if a disputed election was carried before the gothic officials of ravenna by the roman clergy and people , three thousand `` solidi '' would have to be paid into court .
this sum was to be given to the poor .
john remained on good terms with athalaric , who , being an arian christian , was content to refer to john 's tribunal all actions brought against the roman clergy .
the `` liber pontificalis '' records that the following year john obtained valuable gifts as well as a profession of orthodox faith from the byzantine emperor justinian i the great , a significant accomplishment in light of the strength of monophysitism in the byzantine empire at that time .
the notorious adulterous behavior of contumeliosus , bishop of riez in provence , caused john to order the bishops of gaul to confine him in a monastery .
until a new bishop could be appointed , he bade the clergy of riez obey the bishop of arles .
217 bishops assembled in a council at carthage in 535 submitted to john ii a decision about whether bishops who had lapsed into arianism should , on repentance , keep their rank or be admitted only to lay communion .
the question of re-admittance to the lapsed troubled north africa for centuries -lrb- see novatianism and donatism -rrb- .
the answer to their question was given by agapetus , as john ii died on 8 may 535 .
he was buried in st peter 's basilica .
