POPE GREGORY V: THE FIRST GERMAN POPE

by | Jun 18, 2021 | Popes

Bruno of Carinthia was born around 970-972 in Stainach, Duchy of Carinthia. This is in the southern part of what is, today, Austria, not too far from the Italian border. It is at the eastern end of the Alps. It was part of the Holy Roman Empire. His father was Otto I...

THE HISTORY OF POPE JOHN XV

by | Jun 10, 2021 | Popes

Although Pope John XV is spoken of as having a pontificate marked by greed and nepotism, there is little in the way of facts to support it. The same can not be said of the Roman dictator. John certainly had to be careful of whatever he did, since he was succeeding two...

POPES BENEDICT VII AND JOHN XIV

by | Jun 3, 2021 | Popes

POPES BENEDICT VII and JOHN XIV Benedetto (Benedict) de Spoleto was born in Rome around 930 AD. Does the name sound familiar? If you have been following this series, it does. The papacy was getting to be quite the family affair. Marozia Crescentii was the female...

POPE JOHN XII, THE BAD BOY POPE

by | Mar 15, 2021 | Popes

Considered one of the worst of the popes , Octavian, son of Alberic II of Spoleto, was the spoiled child of the Dark Ages. He was born some time between 930 and 937 in the neighborhood of Via Lata. Being an only surviving son, the father, Alberic wanted the best for...

POPE MARINUS II

by | Feb 21, 2021 | Popes

Marinus was born around 900 AD, in the city where he spent his life, Rome. He became the cardinal priest of San Ciriaco alle Terme probably in his late 30s. Shortly after the death of Pope Stephen VIII, Marinus was elevated to the papacy on 30 October, 942. He was...