Vigilius

After this, Justinian also felt entitled to settle disputes in papal elections, as he did when he favoured Vigilius and had his rival Silverius deported.

And during the seventh session of the council, the bishops had Vigilius stricken from the diptychs for his refusal to appear at the council and approve its proceedings, effectively excommunicating him personally but not the rest of the Western Church.

Belisarius then appointed Vigilius.

Richards, Popes and the papacy, pp. 129f The account in the Liber Pontificalis is hardly more favorable to Vigilius.

Silverius refused to this and Vigilius then claimed to Belisarius that Pope Silverius had written to Witiges offering to betray the city.

That work agrees with Liberatus that the restoration of Anthimus to the Patriarchate was the cause of Silverius' deposition, but Vigilius was initially sent to persuade Silverius to agree to this, not replace him.

The form of address that Jordanes uses and his admonition that Vigilius "turn to God " would seem to rule out this identification.

Vigilius was then imprisoned in Constantinople by the emperor and his advisors were exiled.