Background

Pope by the favor of Theodoric the Great, enjoyed a quiet pontificate (526-530), notable principally because the pope, probably for financial reasons, named his own successor, Boniface II. A schism which threatened because of this unprecedented act was avoided because of the death of the antipope Dioscurus. Boniface II in turn named Vigilius as his successor, but retracted his decision because of the opposition aroused. Vigilius became pope some years later. His feast day is September 22.