Of Some who Attained Possession of the Roman Chair Through Secular Power And…

There is also mention made of another kind of popes, who came into possession of the Roman chair not really through themselves, since they were too weak, but through the power of princes and rulers, indeed, even through the Arians. Among these are especially counted the two popes named Felix, both of whom were raised to papal dignity, and put into their office by Arian kings who ruled Italy, and therefore also the city of Rome; the one by Constantius,* the other by Theodoric, both of whom belonged to the Arian sect. Caesar Baronius, Annals, year 526, number 2. [n75-3]

But quite the opposite happened when Pope Silverius was thought to favor the Goths, who sided with the Arians. Prince Belizarius deposed him, and sent him away into Greece, putting Vigilius in his place as pope. According to the testimony of Procopius. Annals, year 538, number 2.

After Vigilius, Pelagius was declared pope by two bishops only, and one from Ostien,** through the favor and help of the emperor Justinian; even though, as Anastasius says, the bad suspicion of having caused the death of the previous Pope Vigilius rested on him; for which reason none of the other clergy, indeed, not even the laity, would have communion or anything to do with him. Annals, year 555, number 2. [n75-1]