John was born in Tuscany, the son of Constantius. He was an archdeacon in Rome for several years before being elected Pope on the death of Pope St. Hormisdas in 523. He was a friend and confidant of the philosopher Boethius. The main event of his pontificate was his journey to Constantinople to try to negotiate between the Emperor Justin and the Arian Gothic king in Ravenna, Theodoric. Imprisoned by Theodoric on his return, he collapsed and died. Patrick Duffy tells his story.