1. Home
  2. Religion & Spirituality
  3. Agnosticism / Atheism
John III
<Back to Last Page >     <Glossary Index>

 Related Terms
• pope

 

Name:
Pope John III
Born: Catelinus
Preceded by: Pelagius I (556 - 561)
Succeeded by: Benedict I (575 - 579)
Roman Catholic Pope #61

Dates:
Born: ? (Rome, Italy)
Died: July 13, 574
Pope: July 17, 561 - July 13, 574 (12 years)

Biography:
Although John III reigned for a fairly long time, not much is known about his pontificate. He was only the second pope to change his name upon election (with the first being John II, coincidentally enough) and appears to have spent much of his time trying to deal with the invasion of Italy by Lombard forces. John's general attitude was very pro-Eastern and when he appealed for help from the East against the Lombards, their unpopularity affected him as well. John eventually left Rome rather than be caught up in the political infighting between Romans and Easterners.

Also Known As: none

Alternate Spellings: none

Common Misspellings: none

Related Resources:

-->

Popes and the Papacy: History, Doctrines, News About Popes
The pope may be the most visible and famous symbol of the Catholic Church. It is the office of the papacy and the assumed link back to the original apostles that differentiates Roman Catholicism from other Christian denominations. The office of the papacy is rather complicated and, much to the chagrin of believers, comes with a rather checkered past.

Pope John Paul II: Biography, History, and Policies
John Paul II has been one of the longest-lived and most influential popes in the history of the Catholic Church. For good or for ill, his policies and personality have helped shape not only the current character of Catholicism but also the direction Catholicism will take for generations to come. Because of that, it's important to take the time to carefully consider what his policies have been and how they have affected Catholics around the world.

Electing the Next Pope: Index of Resources on Papal Elections
Every human is mortal, and that includes popes. Some live and reign for extraordinarily long times while others only serve for a few days, but in the end all die and a new pope must be elected. How are papal elections run? A papal election is a process that is shrouded in secrecy; the details of any one election are supposed to be kept hidden, but general information is known.

Book Reviews: Roman Catholic Popes, Papacy, History
Who or what is the pope? The title pope stems from the Greek word papas, which simply means "father." Early in Christian history it was used as a formal title expressing affectionate respect for any bishop and sometimes even priests. Today it continues to be used in Eastern Orthodox churches for the patriarch of Alexandria.

<Back to Last Page >     <Glossary Index>
Explore Agnosticism / Atheism
About.com Special Features

Holiday Central

What to eat, where to go, fun things to do and how to save money on the perfect gifts. More >

Prayers for All Occasions

Use these prayers to inspire and inform your own conversations with God. More >

  1. Home
  2. Religion & Spirituality
  3. Agnosticism / Atheism

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.