Anastasius. The pope in turn confirmed the council’s sentence and communicated his decision to Simplician of Milan, inviting him and his colleagues in northern Italy to add their own confirmation. But Simplician died that year, so Anastasius wrote to his successor Venerius repeating his invitation. Rufinus, by now feeling himself under increasing pressure, composed his Apology to Anastasius. Anastasius made no direct answer, but to John of Jerusalem, who had expressed concern about his old friend,