Pope Boniface III

Pope Boniface was the 66th Pope and Bishop of Rome. He served as pope from 607AD and only held the position for 266 days before he passed away.

Known as Boniface following his birth, the future pope was both Roman and Greek. His father was John Cataadioce who was Roman. The pope’s mother likely came from Greece.

Pope Gregory I appointed him to a cardinal position on October 15, 590, which was his first position within the Church.

He also served as a deacon and spent more time with the pope. That relationship led to the pope naming Boniface III as an apocrisiarius. As a diplomat, he spent quite a bit of time in Constantinople.

The time he spent there and the people he surrounding himself with helped shape him as a man and influenced some of the work he did as pope. He became a close confidant of Emperor Phocas and worked with him on several occasions.

Papal Election

During this era, bishops working for the Church had the right to name the next pope without going through a formal election or selection process. Noting the work that Boniface did in Constantinople, they chose him as the next pope.

Though Boniface accepted the position, his work kept him in Constantinople. It took almost a year before he returned and became pope.

The Papacy of Pope Boniface III

One of the biggest changes that he made as pope regarded how the next pope was selected. He issued a decree that stated no one could name or discuss the next pope while the current one was still alive. Those who violated the decree faced excommunication.

A second decree stated that in honor of the last pope, the successor would not take the position until at least three days passed. Boniface III worked with the emperor several times after becoming pope and established decrees used for many years.

After serving as pope for 266 days, Boniface III passed away on November 12. Boniface IV became pope the following September.

Quick Facts About Pope Boniface III

  • Pope Boniface III was born circa 540 in Rome when it was part of the Byzantine Empire.
  • Both his birth name and papal name was Boniface.
  • He died on November 12, 607.
  • Boniface III was around the age of 67 when he died of what was probably natural causes.
  • His papacy began on February 19, 607.
  • The papacy of Pope Boniface III ended on November 12, 607.
  • Pope Boniface IV was the next choice as pope.

Interesting Facts About Pope Boniface III

  • In an official decree issued by the pope, he made Rome the head or the top church within all churches. This decree also stated that the top bishop in Rome was the Universal Bishop. The emperor agreed with the decree.

  • Boniface III was one of several popes who served for less than one year. Though he was only 67 at the time of his appointment, he passed away in less than nine months.

  • His father worked as a physician and had the funds needed to educate his son. Boniface likely attended school in Rome before working for the Church.

  • The emperor gave him permission to turn the Pantheon into a church. Records show that locals removed nearly 30 carts of bones from the catacombs below the Pantheon as part of this conversion.

  • Though originally buried in St. Peter’s Basilica, Boniface was moved sometime before the 12th century and then interred again in the new basilica.

A list of all the popes named “Boniface”

Boniface I (St.) (#42) (418 – 422)
Boniface II (#55) (530 – 532)
Boniface III (#66) (607)
Boniface IV (St.) (#67) (608 – 615)
Boniface IX (#204) (1389 – 1404)
Boniface V (#69) (619 – 625)
Boniface VI (#113) (896)
Boniface VIII (#194) (1294 – 1303)