# Pope Vigilius

_Pope_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/pope-vigilius
Last updated: 2026-11-03

> Pope Vigilius was the bishop of Rome from 29 March 537 to his death on 7 June 555. He is considered the first pope of the Byzantine papacy. Born into Roman aristocracy, Vigilius served as a deacon and papal apocrisiarius in Constantinople. He allied with Empress Theodora, who sought his help to establish Monophysitism, and was made pope after the deposition of Silverius. After he refused to sign Emperor Justinian I's edict condemning the Three Chapters, Vigilius was arrested in 545 and taken to Constantinople. He died in Sicily while returning to Rome.

## Quick facts

- **Place of birth:** Rome ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q168734#P19))
- **Died:** 7 June 555 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q168734#P570))
- **Place of death:** Syracuse ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q168734#P20))
- **Occupation:** diplomat; Catholic priest; author ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q168734#P106))
- **Positions held:** Pope (31 March 537 – 7 June 555); papal apocrisiarius to Constantinople ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q168734#P39))

## Questions

**What positions has Pope Vigilius held?**  
Positions held by Pope Vigilius include: Pope (0537–0555); papal apocrisiarius to Constantinople.

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- [Pope Sabinian](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-sabinian)
- [Pope Boniface III](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-boniface-iii)
- [Pope Pelagius I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-pelagius-i)
- [Pope Theodore I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-theodore-i)
- [Pope Martin I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-martin-i)
- [Pope Gregory I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-gregory-i)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Pope Vigilius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Vigilius) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q168734](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q168734) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Vigilius.jpg by Unknown author Unknown author (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vigilius.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Pope Vigilius, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Vigilius.jpg — Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Pope Vigilius". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/pope-vigilius. Retrieved 4 November 2026.