Pope Boniface V (; died 25 October 625) was the bishop of Rome from 23 December 619 to his death on 25 October 625. He did much for the Christianisation of Anglo-Saxon England, and enacted the decree by which churches became places of sanctuary.

Election

Boniface came from Naples. His father's name was Ioannes or John. Nothing is known about his career before he became pope. He was elected to succeed Adeodatus I after the latter's death in November 618, but thirteen months of sede vacante ensued before the election was ratified by the imperial government in Constantinople. During that time, Italy was disturbed by the rebellion of the exarch of Ravenna, Eleutherius, who proclaimed himself emperor. Eleutherius advanced towards Rome, but before he reached the city, he was slain by his own troops. Boniface had been loyal to Emperor Heraclius, and his election was ratified on 23 December 619.

Notes

References

  • Bede. Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum
  • Gasquet, Francis Aidan. A Short History of the Catholic Church in England, 19
  • Gregorovius, Ferdinand. II, 113
  • Hunt, William. The English Church from Its Foundation to the Norman Conquest. Vol. 1. "A History of the English Church", W. R. W. Stephens and William Hunt, ed. London: Macmillan and Co., 1912. 49, 56, 58
  • Jaffé, Regesta Pontificum Romanorum ab condita ecclesia ad annum 1198. Berlin, 1851; 2d ed., Leipsic, 1881–88. I, 222
  • Jungmann, Dissertationes Selectae in Historiam Ecclesiasticam, II, 389.
  • Langen, 506
  • Liber Pontificalis (ed. Duchesne), I, 321–322
  • Mansi, Gian Domenico. X, 547–554
  • Mann, Horace K. Lives of the Popes I, 294–303