Post Views: 2,695 A native of Tuscany in Italy, while he was still an archdeacon John was elected Pope upon the death of Pope Hormisdas in 523. At that time, the ruler of Italy was Theodoric the Goth who subscribed to the Arian brand of Christianity, but had tolerated and even favoured his Catholic subjects … Continue reading Saint of the day: St. John I, Pope and Martyr