Election of Pope Stephen II

Date: March 26, 752 • Location: Rome, Italy

Election of Pope Stephen II following the death of Pope Zachary.

Pope Stephen II was the bishop of Rome from 752 until his death in 757. Stephen II marks the historical delineation between the Byzantine Papacy and the Frankish Papacy. During Stephen's pontificate, Rome was facing invasion by the Lombards when Stephen II went to Paris to seek assistance from Pepin the Short. Pepin defeated the Lombards and made a gift of land to the pope, eventually leading to the establishment of the Papal States.