Lentorama 2025: Perfunctory Popes

Day 31: Boniface III

Most of the popes who've featured here haven't made much of a mark, as it's often hard to effect significant change in a short amount of time. But then you have cases like Boniface, whose brought about changes that are still part of the church - and specifically the papacy - to this day.

Prior to becoming pope, Boniface was sent to Constantinople to represent Pope Gregory I to the emperor, in a role similar to today's papal nuncio. The future pope was a success in the role, finding favor with the emperor and solving a tricky dispute between some local bishops. When Gregory's successor, Pope Sabinian, died in 606, it was no surprise that Boniface was selected to replace him.

Which he didn't do until early 607, nearly a year after Sabinian's death. Why the delay? Some attributed it to Boniface not leaving for Rome until he wrapped up his business in Constantinople, while others suggest that Boniface didn't want to take the throne until he was assured that his election was above board. There was also some thought that Boniface wasn't ratified by the emperor right away, due to a dispute among clergy and nobles as to whether or not policies set forth by Gregory would continue.

In any event, Boniface took the throne in February 607, and died in November of the same year. In that time, he did get three things done that more or less continue today:

* Anyone found discussing who will succeed the pope while the pope is alive could be excommunicated. While no longer in force (that I know if), it's still sets the idea that the election of the pope should be free and fair.

* No steps could be taken to elect a new pope until three days after the death of the pope. The period is longer now, but still in place.

* A decree from the emperor restating that the bishop of Rome should be the head of all the churches. This headed off a conflict with Constantinople's patriarch, and in the long term gave Rome further support in remaining head of the church.