Pope Boniface II

Who was Pope Boniface II?

Pope Boniface II was the head of the Catholic Church from 17 September 530 to his death in 532.

He was by birth an Ostrogoth, the first Germanic pope, and he owed his appointment to the influence of the Gothic king Athalaric. Boniface was chosen by his predecessor, Pope Felix IV, who had been a strong adherent of the Arian king, and was never elected. For a time, Boniface served as Pope in competition with the Antipope Dioscorus, who had been elected by most of the priests of Rome. Boniface and Dioscorus were both consecrated in Rome on 22 September 530, but Dioscurus died only twenty-two days later. Boniface was buried in St. Peter's on 17 October 532.