When he was to be exiled he appealed to the pope for help, as well as two other western prelates; Venerius of Milan and Chromatius of Aquileia. He appealed to all three in the same terms rather than viewing the pope as leader. In 2007 Pope Benedict XVI also spoke of this: Historian J. N. D Kelly wrote: The pope took up the cause of John Chrysostom, convoking a western synod to investigate the matter. They found in favor of John Chrysostom and sent delegates to Constantinople but these were ignored and sent back after only three months. The pope's findings in support of John Chrysostom were not viewed as serious enough to annul John Chrysostom's exile. It must also be remembered that he took his vows from Meletius (whom we noted earlier was not in communion with Rome). He accepted as an authority men not in communion with Rome. After Meletius died John Chrysostom accepted Flavian as his bishop - another person not in communion with Rome. John Chrysostom spent much of his life not in communion with Rome. Other texts are used to allege he supported Roman primacy. John Chrysostom sometimes ascribes to Peter greatness. This would seem to indicate that Chrysostom taught that Peter was the supreme ruler over the "brethren". He goes on to ascribe Peter as the "teacher of the world". However, according to Abbé Guettée on other occasions John Chrysostom ascribes the same titles to others: Denny also notes that John Chrysostom goes on to speak of Paul as being on an equal footing with Peter. Further, the Catholic encyclopedia offers this frank admission of his writings:  Basil the Great also supported Meletius against Rome's candidate. Writing to Count Terentius Basil said From his letters it appears that Basil did not hold the popes in high esteem. When Basil wrote to the west for help (in combating Arianism) he addressed his letters to the whole western church. He didn't especially write to Rome for help and did not even list it first. Damasus was the leader of a group supporting the heretic Marcellus Of the pope, St Basil wrote  Coryphæus means the "head of the choir". Catholic apologists note that John Chrysostom uses the term to describe Peter. However he also uses this term in relation to others:  It is argued by Catholics that John Chrysostom only uses the singular Coryphæus in relation to Peter.