Pope Martin I

Who was Pope Martin I?

Pope Martin I was the head of the Catholic Church from 21 July 649 to his death in 655. He was born near Todi, Umbria, in the place now named after him. He succeeded Pope Theodore I on 5 July 649. He was the only pope during the Byzantine Papacy whose election was not approved by a iussio from Constantinople. Martin I was abducted by Emperor Constans II and died in the Crimean peninsula. He is considered a saint and martyr by the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.

He was the last apocrisiarius to be elected pope.