Pope Severinus, the 71st Pope, endured a tumultuous papacy marked by political strife and doctrinal resistance. Despite his short reign, his steadfast opposition to Monothelitism left a lasting impact on the Church."

The 71st Pope, Pope Severinus, began his short papacy on May 28, 640, lasting only sixty-six days. Severinus, who was already an elderly man when he was elected, had to wait about twenty months for the emperor's approval and permission to be consecrated as Bishop of Rome and Pope after his election. The reason for this delay was that the Pope refused to follow the teachings of Monothelitism, a heresy that was strongly prevalent in the Church.

Pope Severinus refused to accept the Ecthesis, issued by Sergius, Patriarch of Constantinople, and approved by Emperor Heraclius. This was issued to resolve the problems arising from the Monophysite heresy, on the grounds that it was a clear manifestation of the heresy of Monothelitism. While waiting for the emperor's approval, he was subjected to brutal persecution for his refusal to accept the Ecthesis.

After misleading the Roman army into believing that their salaries had been entrusted to the Pope, the gruntled men besieged the Lateran Palace, the official residence of the Bishop of Rome, for three days and pressured him to release their salaries. At the end of the siege, the soldiers entered the Lateran Palace and plundered the papal treasury. The entire papal wealth they had plundered was shared by the Roman army and officials.

Pope Severinus, who was anointed on May 28, AD640, with the emperor's permission, sadly passed away on August 2, the sixty-sixth day of his reign.

Pope Severinus, who was elected by the partisans who had supported the diocesan clergy, raised the salaries of the diocesan clergy and paid them a year's salary in advance after his death. The body of Pope Severinus was laid to rest in St. Peter's Basilica.