Pope Saint Vitalian of Segni ruled the church between 657 and 672 in a period of intense political and military activity in which Italy was sacked by friends and enemies.
This was the time when the relationship between the religious and civil authorities was to be clearly defined. On the one hand, there was a decline of political authorities in the West (while still holding Constantinople), and on the other, the church was trying to occupy a political role as well.
But let's proceed by steps and try to figure out what happened to Constantinople, in what was still the empire of Roman origin. For those who know something of Roman city planning, visiting Istanbul is a unique experience because many traces of Roman social life can be found in the city's layout.
In those years the Emperor of the Orient was Constans II, who came onto the throne at a very young age. His kingdom was encircled by Arabs who wanted North Africa, Egypt and Sicily to join the heart of the empire. Their kingdom was in such a rapid expansion that, in order to confront their advance, Constans II made an agreement with China's Emperor Taisun.
Meanwhile, the Longobards were taking control of Italy by conquering important areas with the Duchies of Ravenna, Spoleto and Benevento. Rome remained an area increasingly administered by a papacy that is becoming a state.
The relationship between Emperor and Pope was very problematic because Constans somehow supported the theories that Christ has two souls (earthly and divine) and two different wills. While Pope Martin I disagreed with these theories, called Monotheism, and professed that Christ had two souls but one will.
This philosophical dispute actually concealed the struggle for power on earth and the coexistence of the Pope with kings and emperors. Constans II tried to kill Pope Martino I who survived but ended his days in exile.
This was the climate when, in 657, Pope Vitaliano I was elected, having been born in Segni, and decided to find some peace seeking harmony with everyone. What he obtained was a series of crossed-out excommunications between the pope and patriarch, backed by the Emperor of Constantinople.
Constans II, who was violent and arrogant, then decided to come to Italy to take control of what remained of the Roman Empire. Constans came to Italy but did not succeed in much of his wishes.
He spent 12 days in Rome (he was the first emperor since the fall of the Western Roman Empire) and used his time finishing to plunder monuments and treasures. It was he who stole the gilded bronze tiles of the Pantheon with all the statues and interior decorations.
Subsequently, Constans II was assassinated in Syracuse and Vitalian helped to elect the legitimate son of Constans II onto the throne. The struggle for succession was tough and the new emperor was grateful to Pope Vitaliano..
With this truce, the emperor could return to take care of the Arab advance and Vitalian could concentrate on the English and art.
Left to themselves, after the fall of the Roman empire, the British had soon adopted Celtic customs and this weakened the figure of the papacy. Pope Vitaliano with the help of his bishops restored the Easter celebration date, but it must be recognised that no one will ever be able to really beat the British!
However, Vitalian's legacy has come to this day because it is thanks to him that the Schola cantorum founded by Pope Gregory was definitively developed and it was Vitaliano who introduced the use of the organ into the Roman liturgy.
At his death in 672 Vitalian was buried in the ancient Basilica of St. Peter.
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