POPE JOHN VI

'John VI', pope from October 30, 701 to January 11, 705, was a native of Greece, and succeeded to the papal chair two months after the death of Sergius I.
He assisted the exarch Theophylact, who had been sent to Italy by the emperor Justinian II, and prevented him from using violence against the Romans. Partly by persuasion and partly by means of a bribe, John succeeded in inducing Gisulf, duke of Benevento, to withdraw from the territories of the empire.