Pope Pelagius I

Pope Pelagius I (died 3 March 561) was the bishop of Rome from 556 to his death on 3 March 561. A former apocrisiarius to Constantinople, Pelagius I was elected pope as the candidate of Emperor Justinian I, a designation not well received in the Western Church. Before his papacy, he opposed Justinian's efforts to condemn the "Three Chapters" in order to reconcile theological factions within the Church, but later adopted Justinian's position.

• Among these [councils] I wish above all to follow and imitate the one whom we know to have been the author of the Council of Chalcedon, and who, in accordance with his name, clearly showed himself to be a member of that lion [Pope Leo I] who came forth from the tribe of Judah, with his lively zeal and faith. (from the encyclical letter Vas electionis, 444)

• It has never been permitted, nor will it ever be permitted, for a particular synod to be convened to judge a general council. **from the letter Relegentes autem, 447.

• Heinrich Denzinger, Enchiridion Symbolorum, bilingual edition edited by Peter Hünermann, Italian version edited by Angelo Lanzoni and Giovanni Zaccherini, Edb, 2001.