
John was a Dalmatian, the son of the advocate Venantius, and archdeacon of Rome when he was elected. His reign lasted about two years.
When the Slavs ravaged his homeland he sent the abbot Martin with large sums to ransom captives, brought relics of Dalmatian saints to Rome and built an oratory for them that still stands. While still pope-elect he joined in writing to the clergy of the north of Ireland about the date of Easter and warning them against Pelagianism. He condemned the teaching that Christ has only one will and defended the memory of Honorius I.
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