We discuss the Popes from Charlemagne and the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire (Pope Leo III) to just after the year 1000 (Pope Benedict IX). This class discusses by far the most exciting and scandalous time in the history of the papacy!
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The History of the Popes
The Good, the Bad, and the Phony
Session 4, The Popes of the Holy Roman Empire
You are Peter, and upon this Rock I will build my Church. (Matthew 16:18)
I. Course Outline
January 28th -- Introduction to the Papacy, Papal Elections, the First Popes
February 4th -- Popes under the time of persecution
February 11th – Popes of the early Middle Ages
February 18th -- Popes in the Holy Roman Empire
February 25th -- Popes in the late Middle Ages
[post Easter: The Western Schism, The Early Modern Period, Recent Days]
IV. The Popes in the Holy Roman Empire
St Leo III: Pope from 795-816. He crowned Charlemagne on Christmas day, 800. This starts the Holy Roman Empire. Charlemagne had defended the pope against various adversaries, and there is a story of a miraculous healing after enemies had plucked out Leo’s eyes. Feast is June 12th. #96
St Nicholas I, the Great: Pope from 858-867. He is the last Pope called “the great”, but is relatively unknown by most Catholics today. He greatly strengthened the authority of the Pope (Bishop of Rome) over all the other Bishops of the Catholic Church. He also insisted that the Pope had authority even over the Eastern Churches and the Patriarchs of what would become the Orthodox Church. He approved of inserting the filioque into the Creed. He also established the practice of abstaining from meat on Wednesday and Friday - clarifying the distinction between warm and cold blooded animals as part of determining what counts as meat. He was in conflict with Patriarch Photius of Constantinople, which was a prelude to the Great Schism beginning in 1054. Pope St Nicholas was also important for upholding marriage laws, especially against the wishes of the royalty and the powerful. Feast is November 13th. #105
John VIII: Pope from 872-882. He was Pope during the rise of Islam as a major threat to Europe and Christianity. He also succeeded in ending the minor schism between East and West over Photius (see Nicholas I above). Unfortunately, the difficulties of the world at the time caused an exhaustion of resources for the Church. Perhaps due to frustration with his leniency toward the East or because of the difficulties facing Europe from the Muslims, many in Rome pushed back against Pope John VIII. He may have been poisoned and then murdered by some of the clergy. He is the first Pope assassinated. 7 to 10 popes have been murdered. #107
Formosus: Pope from 891-896. Story of cadaver synod with Popes Stephen VI and later Sergius III. About 7 months after the death of Formosus, Pope Stephen (two pope’s after Formosus) had his body exhumed and put on trial. There was great political unrest in Italy and in the Diocese of Rome during these years - with over two dozen popes between 872 and 965, and an average of a new pope each year from 896 to 904. Formosus was caught in the midst of all this, having had favor under Pope St Nicholas the Great but then fallen into great disfavor under Pope John VIII. Formosus was already the bishop of the diocese of Porto-Santa Rufina, but then took on various other diplomatic responsibilities in the Church. He was then elected as Pope. However the debate of the Cadaver Synod was whether someone who was already bishop of one diocese could then be elected as pope, becoming the bishop of a new diocese (Rome). At the time, this was a major controversy, and Pope Stephen VI condemned the dead Formosus (and desecrated his corpse). However, Formosus was later found innocent and his honor restored. But then the controversy broke out anew under Pope Sergius III a decade later. Finally, Formosus was fully exonerated. But through these controversies the ordinations performed by Formosus had alternatively been declared null and then declared valid, etc. #111
Stephen VI: Pope from 896-897. Cadaver Synod. The aftermath of the Formosus trial was such a scandal that Pope Stephen was imprisoned and later strangled, making him the second Pope assassinated. #113
Sergius III: Pope from 904-911. More trouble about Pope Formosus. It is also rumoured that Sergius had an affair that led to the birth of a child who later became Pope John XI. It was a very confusing time in the history of the Church! #119
Popess Joan: Supposedly “pope” somewhere between 800 and 1100. A medieval legend about a female “pope”. The story runs that a very talented woman, dressed as a man, became notary to the Curia, then cardinal and finally pope; that one day this person went out on horseback, and on this occasion gave birth to a son; that she was then bound to the tail of a horse, dragged round the city, stoned to death by the mob, and was buried at the place where she died; and that an inscription was put up there as follows: "Petre pater patrum papissae prodito partum - Oh Peter, Father of fathers, make known the childbearing of the woman pope". In her reign, the story adds, the Ember days were introduced, called therefore the "fasts of the popess". What is most astonishing is that this fable was widely accepted as true from the 1300 through the 1500! And yet, though she of course could not be considered as a true pope, neither did this story make people doubt the truth of the Papacy!
Gregory V: Pope from 996-999. He was only the 5th Pope to take a different name (his given name was Bruno). After him, it is standard for popes to take a new name. He died suddenly and may have been murdered, but it is unclear. #138
Benedict IX: Pope from 1032-1048. He was the youngest Pope at only 20 years old. His story is filled with extreme scandal as he held three different pontificates. He was the nephew of the previous Pope (John XIX) and likely obtained papal election through bribery. However, his life was such a scandal to the Roman people and clergy that he was driven out of the City. Another pope was elected, Sylvester III. Benedict was able to return and regain power, deposing Sylvester. Although some would consider Sylvester III an anti-pope, he is still included in the official papal list by the Vatican. However, then Benedict IX decided that he did not want to continue as Pope and sold the papacy to his godfather, who became Pope Gregory VI. Gregory VI was hailed as a sign of hope by Saint Peter Damian who looked for reform and an end to the scandal of Benedict IX. However, Benedict then returned and again attempted to reclaim the Papal throne. Sylvester III also made renewed claims to be Pope. In the end, all three Benedict, Sylvester and Gregory were deposed (technically, Gregory resigned), and Clement II was elected as successor to Pope Gregory VI. However, when Clement II died, Benedict IX returned and again briefly took control as Pope! However, he was soon ousted by German forces, and Damasus II was elected as Pope. It is believed that he may have spent his last years in a life of penance. #145, 147, 150.
Nicholas II: Pope 1058-1061. During his time, the college of cardinals was formalized a great deal. We discuss more about papal elections and cardinals. #155
V. Popes we will discuss in the next weeks
St Gregory VII: Pope from 1073-1085. The great Hildebrand! Had been a papal advisor for many years and then, as pope, continued some of the most important reforms of the Middle Ages. #157
Innocent III: Pope from 1198-1216. He approved of St Francis establishing his order. Although not a saint, he is one of the great popes. #178
Interregnum period 2 yrs 276 days. 1268-1271
Blessed Gregory X: Pope from 1271-1276. Called the Second Council of Lyons which regulated papal conclaves and elections until the 20th Century. #184
Bl Innocent V: Pope in 1276. First Dominican Pope. Retained the white habit/cassock as Pope. #185
St (Peter) Celestine V: Pope in 1294. #192
Boniface VIII, Pope from 1294-1303. #193
