Anastasius II was a Roman priest who served as the bishop of Rome from late 496 until his death in November 498. Born in Rome to a priest, he ascended to the papacy with the support of a faction seeking to resolve the Acacian schism, a long-standing doctrinal dispute between the Eastern and Western churches. His attempts to reconcile these divided Christian communities through diplomatic gestures and compromise caused significant friction with many clergy in Rome, ultimately leading to further division within the Western church after his passing.