THEODORE II

born , Rome died December 897, Rome pope for 20 days during December 897. He was elected during one of the darkest periods in papal history, caused by the Cadaver Synod at which Pope Stephen VI had posthumously deposed and desecrated the disinterred corpse of Pope Formosus. Despite his brief reign, Theodore vindicated Formosus' pontificate at a synod, after which he honourably buried the corpseretrieved by Theodore's predecessor Romanusat St. Peter's, Rome. Because of the intrigue in Rome over the Cadaver Synod, it is possible that Theodore was murdered for his acts. flourished 7th century, , Italy antipope from Sept. 21 to Dec. 15, 687. A Roman archpriest, Theodore had already been a papal candidate when Pope John V died in 686. Following the death of Pope Conon, John's successor, a simultaneous double election conducted by opposing factions attempted to enthrone Theodore and his rival, Antipope Paschal, then a Roman archdeacon. Soon, another election followed that established Sergius I as the legitimate pontiff. Theodore submitted instantly and acknowledged Sergius, but Paschal refused to yield.