Lentorama 2025: Perfunctory Popes

Day 13: Agapetus I

Not a great deal is known of Agapetus' early life, other than that his father was apparently a Roman priest named Gordianus, and it's possible that he was related to two earlier popes (celibacy was not required for priests until the 11th century).

Agapetus was made pope in 535, and apparently spent most of his time making decisions over various theological issues (which I guess makes sense for a pope). Late in that year he left on a mission to Constantinople, at the behest of the Ostrogoth leader Theodahad, to ask Byzantine emperor Justinian I to put off a looming invasion of Italy.

That mission was a failure, as Justinian refused to put off the invasion as preparations were too far along to put it off. Agapetus was able to settle a controversy over the patriarchy of Constantinople, and became the first pope to consecrate the holder of that office.

Agapetus died on the way back to Rome, succumbing to an illness picked up while traveling. He served only 10 months.