POPES
by Deb McCoy | Feb 26, 2022 | Popes
One of the outstanding papal reformers was Pope Nicholas II, Gerhard of Burgundy. Born between 990 and 995, he grew up near one of the chief reform-minded abbeys of France, Cluny. Certainly, he was exposed to the attitudes this abbey promoted. As a young priest,...
by Deb McCoy | Feb 23, 2022 | Popes
Several months ago, this series addressed the Tusculum and Crescenti families. These two familes controlled the Papacy for about 150 years. The last of the family popes was Pope Benedict IX. We thought that, when the Germans began to interfere with the papacy, the two...
by Deb McCoy | Feb 12, 2022 | Popes
Pope Stephen IX was the 154th pope He was head of the Roman Church for a short period, 2 August 1057 – 29 March 1058. Born Frederick of Lorraine, he was a younger member of the Ardennes-Verdun dynasty. This was a politically active family in the mid-11th century. He...
by Deb McCoy | Feb 3, 2022 | Popes
Pope Benedict XVI was the first German pope in 950 years. Pope Victor II was the last German pope before then. His death, in 1057, marked the end of a close working relationship between the Holy Roman Empire and the Catholic. Born Gebhard of Dolinstein-Hirshberg,...
by Deb McCoy | Jan 10, 2022 | Popes
Pope Damasus II had one of the shortest papacies on record. 23 days. About what he did there is little record. About how he got into that position there is a great deal of information. Born Poppo de Curagnoni, he was born in Pildenau, in the Duchy of Bavaria. This was...
by Deb McCoy | Jan 6, 2022 | Popes
Suidger von Morsleben was born in Hornburg, Saxony (Germany) around 967. His parents were Count Konrad of Hornburg and his wife, Amilrad. Young Suidger went to Halberstadt to study and became a canon. In 1032, he became the chaplain for Archbishop Hermann of...
