This Pope was a son of Pope Hormisdas who had been married before receiving Holy Orders. He fell a victim to the brutal tyranny of Belisarius. Accused of favoring the Goths he was stripped of the papal insignia and handed over to some sub-deacons who clothed him in the monastic habit. It was then announced that Silverius had become a monk.

The Emperor Justinian restored him, but Belisarius was once more able to exile him to the island of Palmaria, where he succumbed to hardship and want in 538. God glorified him by many miracles. (Source: The New Roman Missal by Father Lasance)