BENEDICT II, SAINT

born , Rome died May 8, 685, Rome; feast day May 8 pope from 684 to 685. He was engaged in church government under popes SS. Agatho and Leo II, whom he was elected (683) to succeed. His consecration (June 26, 684) was delayed until the approval of the Byzantine emperor Constantine IV Pogonatus could be obtained, so that the see of Rome was vacant for almost a year. Benedict wanted to eliminate this time gap between the election by the clergy and Roman citizens and corroboration by the Christian emperor, and he persuaded Constantine to decree that future elections would not need imperial consent. Nevertheless, further imperial ratification occurred. Benedict confirmed Agatho's injunctions to restore Archbishop Wilfrid to the see of York. During his pontificate, Benedict restored several Roman churches.