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December 963 A.D. Roman
Synod Deposes the Half-Whacked Mr. (Pope) John XII
Graves,
Dan. “Roman Synod Deposed Pope John XII.”
Christianity.com. Jun 2007. http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/901-1200/roman-synod-deposed-pope-john-xii-11629775.html. Accessed 14 Jun 2014.
Things did not look good for Pope John XII in the
winter of 963. The corrupt young man had become pope through the influence of
his father, Alberic, ruler of Rome. Before his death, Alberic made civic
leaders swear at St. Peter's altar that they would make his son Octavius pope
at the first vacancy. The leaders loved the dying father and kept their word to
him better than the son would keep his word to anyone.
Elected pope at the age of
eighteen, Octavius changed his name to John, becoming the first pope to change
his name on taking office. With his election to the highest office of the
western church, John was ruler over spiritual and civil matters in Rome. A man
more unfit for the task of leading Christendom could hardly be imagined. He
preferred battles to Bible study, hunting to holiness and was a notorious
adulterer and liar. The prestige of the papacy plummeted.
Enemies defeated him in battle
and occupied lands that belonged to the popes. John made a deal with Otto I,
king of the Germans. He pledged allegiance to Otto and crowned him emperor of
the Holy Roman Empire. In return, Otto promised to recognize only John as pope.
The two agreed that from then on popes would pledge themselves to the emperor.
Nonetheless, Otto pleaded with John to reform his wicked ways.
No sooner had Otto left Rome in
February 962 than John was sorry he had given up some of the pope's authority
to Otto. He began a treacherous correspondence with the emperor's enemies and
tried to incite them to war against Otto. The emperor intercepted the letters.
Astonished at John's treachery, he subdued the rebel provinces and marched back
to Rome. John fled.
Otto gathered the leaders of the
church into a synod (local church council) which met on November 6. Its fifty
Italian and German bishops summoned John to defend himself against charges of
adultery, incest, murder, perjury, sacrilege, and simony (selling church
offices). John refused to appear. Instead, he wrote in his poor grammar,
saying, "To all the bishops--We hear that you wish to make another pope.
If you do I excommunicate you by almighty God and you have no power to ordain
no one or celebrate mass."
Unmoved, the synod proceeded
with its hearings. The emperor himself testified against John. With the
emperor's consent, the synod removed John from office on
this day, December 4, 963. In his place, they chose a layman named Leo.
But Leo VIII's election was improper by existing standards. Nonetheless, Leo
ruled until the following year. With Otto gone, John recaptured Rome and cut
off the hands, ears and noses of several foes.
But John's hourglass was about
out of sand. Accounts of his death differ. Some say he was so severely beaten
by a jealous husband for an act of adultery that he died within days in May
964; but others say he was murdered. Otto's historian said that the devil
himself came to fetch his most faithful servant. At any rate, he was no more
than twenty-nine years old. After John's death, Otto reinstalled Leo VIII as
pope.
Bibliography:
1. Brusher, Joseph Stanislaus. Popes through the Ages. Princeton, N.
J.: Van Nostrand, 1959.
2. Chamberlain, E. R. The Bad Popes. New York: Dorset, 1969.
3. De Rosa, Peter. Vicars of Christ; the dark side of the papacy. Dublin:
Poolbeg Press, 2000, especially pp. 51-2.
4. Kirsch, J. P. "Pope John XII." Catholic Encyclopedia.
New York: Robert Appleton: 1910).
5. Lea, Henry C. Studies in Church History. Philadelphia: Henry C. Lea; London: Samson, Low, Son, & Marston,
1869, p.36.
6. Various encyclopedia and internet articles.
Last updated June,
2007
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