The Council was presided over by Eutychius, Patriarch of Constantinople, assiste

d by the other three eastern patriarchs or their representatives. Pope Vigilius

was also invited; but even though he was at this period resident in Constantinop
le (to avoid the perils of life in Italy, convulsed by the war against the Ostro
goths), he declined to attend, and even issued a document forbidding the council
from preceding without him (his 'First Constitutum'). For more details see Pope
Vigilius.
The council, however, proceeded without the pope to condemn the Three Chapters.
And during the seventh session of the council, the bishops had Vigilius stricken
from the diptychs for his refusal to appear at the council and approve its proc
eedings, effectively excommunicating him personally but not the rest of the West
ern Church. Vigilius was then imprisoned in Constantinople by the emperor and hi
s advisors were exiled. After six months, in December 553, he agreed, however, t
o condemn the Three Chapters, claiming that his hesitation was due to being misl
ed by his advisors.[4] His approval of the council was expressed in two document
s, (a letter to Eutychius of Constantinople, 8 Dec., 553, and a second "Constitu
tum" of 23 February, 554, probably addressed to the Western episcopate), condemn
ing the Three Chapters,[5] on his own authority and without mention of the counc
il.