POPE BENEDICT IV, A STEP IN SAVING THE PAPACY

by | Oct 13, 2020 | Popes

The “Dark Ages”, as the 800s and 900s tend to be called, were partially the result of a sense of self-entitlement on the part of the papacy and the ruling class. Everyone was in it for themselves, taking whatever could be obtained and rejecting others as pawns to be...

POPE JOHN IX–HOLDING IT ALL TOGETHER

by | Sep 22, 2020 | Popes

Pope John IX was the first pope in a while to last a whole year. He lasted almost two. Born in Tivoli, 30 km from Rome, the son of Rampoaldo, John was born around 840 AD. Little is heard of him until he became a Benedictine monk, then was ordained a priest by Pope...

POPES ROMANUS AND THEODORE

by | Sep 5, 2020 | Popes

The 9th century had turned into a disaster for the Church, and Italy. Not only were the Saracens attacking southern Italy and Sicily, cities were becoming independent and thinking for themselves. Popes were chased out, pushed out or killed in rapid succession. One...

POPES BONIFACE VI AND STEPHEN VI

by | Aug 18, 2020 | Popes

We last left Pope Formosus in a desperate situation. He had been pressed into crowning young Lambert, son of Duke Guy of Spoleto, emperor. But within a short period, Formosus turned to King Arnulf, of East Francia and disputed King of Italy, and crowned him emperor....

POPE ST. BENEDICT III–DEALING WITH CONTENTION

by | Aug 9, 2020 | Popes, Saints

Benedict, son of Peter, was born in Rome, sometime between 790 and 810 AD. He was a well-educated man, known for his learning and piety. Before Pope Leo IV died, he had raised Benedict to the level of cardinal-priest, assigning him to the church of San Callisto. On...