Pope Adeodatus II (77º): Biography, Pontificate & Legacy

Who Was Pope Adeodatus II?

Among the 267 popes, Adeodatus II is number 77, remembered for the years 11 April 672 –17 June 676 in late antiquity. (Eastern) Roman citizen. Use the sections below to move from a one-line summary of Adeodatus II to a usable historical and spiritual picture.

Early Life & Background

Before election he was known as Adeodatus, O.S.B.. Born circa 621 Rome, Exarchate of Ravenna, Eastern Roman Empire, he entered a world shaped by politics and piety very different from today's global Church. Member of the Order of Saint Benedict. Religious formation in Order of Saint Benedict shaped his approach to the papal office.

Historical Context

Adeodatus II (#undefined) governed amid imperial transition, invasions, and debates over Christ's nature — Rome's bishop increasingly seen as a guardian of orthodoxy for the wider Church.

Pontificate & Key Events

The pontificate (11 April 672 –17 June 676) centered on governance during late antiquity. (Eastern) Roman citizen. Was of Roman ethnicity. Sometimes called Adeodatus, without a number, in reference to Adeodatus I sometimes being called Deusdedit.

Papal Acts & Achievements

Acts associated with Adeodatus II (#77, 11 April 672 –17 June 676) still draw historians and Catholics who want more than a one-line summary. His reign remains a link in the succession now counted at 267 popes.

Key Highlights

• 77th pope of the Catholic Church
• Pontificate: 11 April 672 –17 June 676
• Shepherded the Church during late antiquity
• Successor of St. Peter in the official Catholic list

Legacy in the Catholic Church

Adeodatus II remains pope 77º in the Annuario Pontificio. Set against late antiquity, Adeodatus II's choices show both the limits of any one pontiff and the continuity of the office he held.

Why Catholics Study This Pope Today

Reading Adeodatus II as pope 77º (11 April 672 –17 June 676) is a way to study how Rome answered the crises of late antiquity. Begin with this documented note: (Eastern) Roman citizen. Use the neighboring pontiff links below to test whether Adeodatus II's reign looks unique or typical for late antiquity.

Place in the Line of Succession

Adeodatus II followed Pope St. Vitalian (76º, 30 July 657 –27 January 672) after a transition shaped by the politics and piety of their shared century. He was followed by Pope Donus (78º, 2 November 676 –11 April 678), whose biography continues the chain on Guide Catholic. For the full chronological map, see our complete list of all 267 popes — then read neighboring biographies for contrast, not only continuity.