Ioannes 31 was a deacon of the Church of Rome in 680 and 681 and subsequently became the bishop of Rome in 685, occupying the see from 23 July 685 to 2 August 686 (see below).

Ioannes 31 was pope John V.

He was a native of Syria, from the province of Antioch, and was the son of Cyriacus (Kyriakos 6): Lib. Pont. 84. 1 ("Iohannes, natione Syrus, de provintia Anthiochia, ex patre Cyriaco"). While a deacon ("hic dum esset diaconus"), he was sent by pope Agatho 1 as one of the papal representatives to attend the Council of Constantinople, the Sixth Ecumenical Council, in 680 and 681: Lib. Pont. 84. 1, cf. Paul. Diac., Hist. Lang. VI 4 (Agatho 1 sent two "legati, Iohannes diaconus et Iohannes Portuensis episcopus").

Deacon of the Church of Rome, he was one of the clergy from there who represented pope Agatho 1 at the Third Council of Constantinople (the Sixth Ecumenical Council) in 680 and 681; the other two clergy were both priests, Theodoros 22 and Georgios 15: Riedinger II 2. 16, line 3 (= Mansi XI 209-210) (Theodoros 22, Georgios 15 καὶ Ἰωάννου τοῦ εὐλαβεστάτου διακόνου). He was sent to the Council by pope Agatho 1: Riedinger II 2. 56, line 9, 889, line 19, 895, line 32, 870, line 5 (= Mansi XI 236, 685, 716, 728), Lib. Pont. 81. 3 ("Iohannem diaconum"), Photius, Ep. 1, lines 322-325 (I 12 Laourdas-Westerink).

In the subscriptions to the statement of the faith, which condemned monotheletism, and to the Council, he is styled ἐλάχιστος διάκονος τῆς ἁγίας ἐκκλησίας Ῥώμης : Riedinger II 2. 778, lines 8-9, 822, lines 10-12 (= Mansi XI 640, 668). He attended all eighteen sessions of the Council: Riedinger II 2. 16-820 (= Mansi XI 209-667).

At the opening session he and his two colleagues raised the question of the recent heresies of monotheletism and of One Energy: Riedinger II 2. 20, line 16 (= Mansi XI 212-213).

At the sixth session (12 February) they criticised the statements from the Fathers produced in support of the doctrine of One Will by Makarios 1 and his supporters as corrupt and undertook to produce other texts which upheld the anti-monothelete stance: Riedinger II 2. 178, line 6 (= Mansi XI 325). They produced a volume (κωδίκιον) of the relevant statements at the seventh session (13 February) which was read out by Stephanos 16: Riedinger II 2. 186-188 (= Mansi XI 329-332).

After the Council he returned to Rome bringing with him a number of documents, including copies of the Acts of the Council and the emperor's edict confirming it; he also brought various imperial orders releasing the Roman Church from a number of financial and other charges which were allegedly hard to meet: Lib. Pont. 84. 2.

He was the bishop of Rome for one year and nine days; he was chosen in the Basilica Constantiniana, the Church of the Saviour, by general acclaim ("a generalitate"), allegedly in a revival of ancient custom ("iuxta priscam consuetudinem"; but see the note of Duchesne, Lib. Pont., p. 367, n. 1), conducted to the papal palace (the Lateran) and consecrated by the bishops of Ostia, Portus and Velitrae (see Ioannes 21, Andreas 6 and Plakentios 1): Lib. Pont. 84. 1, 3.

He convened a church council ("facto concilio sacerdotum") which restored to papal control the ordination of bishops of the see of Turris ("Libisonis") (in Sardinia): Lib. Pont. 84. 4. He was in ill health and found even ordinations a strain; however he consecrated thirteen bishops; he donated a large sum of money, one thousand nine hundred solidi, to the clergy, the monasteria diaconiae, and the mansionarii; he was buried in St Peter's on 2 August 686: Lib. Pont. 84. 5.

He was the addressee of a letter from the emperor Justinian II (Ioustinianos 1) confirming the Sixth Ecumenical Council: Riedinger II 2. 886-887 (= Mansi XI 737-738). The letter, however, bears the date 17 February 687 ("data decimotertio Kalendas Martias ... anno secundo" (of Justinian II (Ioustinianos 1) ... "indictione decimaquinta"); Ioannes 31's successor, Konon 10, had been bishop of Rome since 21 October 686. Described as a vigorous man, learned and moderate in character ("vir valde strenuus atque scientia praeditus et omnimodo moderatus"): Lib. Pont. 84. 1. His epitaph is preserved: Rossi, ICVR II, pp. 129, 207. Lines 3 to 6 allude to his pontificate, his time as deacon, and his visit to the Council of Constantinople ("hic et in extremis sollers fidusque minister - claruit et primus iure levita fuit. - Missus ad imperium vice praesulis extitit auctor, - hunc memorant synodus pontificisque tomus").

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