BENEDICT I

born , Rome died July 30, 579, Rome pope from 574/575 to 579. Little is known about his life. He was elected to succeed John III, probably just after the latter's death (July 574), but was not consecrated until June 575, so that the see of Rome was vacant for almost 11 months. He consecrated 21 bishops during his pontificate and granted the Massa Veneris, an estate near Minturnae (near modern Minturo, Italy), to Abbot Stephen of St. Mark's. He ruled the church during a period made calamitous by invasion and by famine. While working to solve these problems, he died during a siege of Rome by the Lombards.