Constantine
Constantine · 708 – 715
The last pope to visit Constantinople, where he navigated tense negotiations with Emperor Justinian II and maintained Roman doctrinal authority.
Constantine was a Syrian. He traveled to Constantinople in 710-711, the last pope to do so for centuries. Emperor Justinian II received him with elaborate ceremony and reportedly knelt to kiss his foot. The two resolved outstanding disagreements about the Quinisext Council, with Constantine accepting some canons while rejecting others. While he was still in the East, Justinian II was overthrown and killed. Constantine returned safely to Rome and continued to govern for several more years.
The Last Pope in Constantinople
Constantine's trip to Constantinople was a farewell of sorts, though nobody knew it at the time. He was the last pope to visit the Eastern capital. The world was dividing. East and West were drifting apart in language, culture, and increasingly in how they understood the relationship between Church and state. Constantine's visit was the final chapter of a shared story.