Death Of A Depraved Pope...!


On May 14, 964, Pope Johannes XII died. More precisely: he is killed by the husband of one of his many lovers!



Born as Octavian di Spoleto in Rome in 937 (it may have been 938 or 939 - he gave differing accounts) he was elected Pope on December 16, 955, and bribery was certainly involved!

Among the many scandalous "representatives of God on earth" Johannes XII certainly s a top spot; he was dismissed by the cardinals, who themselves by no means lived a godly and celibate life and therefore let one of their own way of life get away with it (as long as it was not made public) on December 4, 963 - because of "immoral way of life"!

In addition, there were the following misconduct, how good that the church keeps its files for so long - everything is neatly recorded in contemporary sources:

- liturgical transgressions,
- the ordination of a deacon in a stable
- the elevation of a ten-year-old to the Bishop of Todi
- Bishop surveys for money
- Sacrileges
- Adulteries
- the carrying of weapons
- passion for hunting
- the blinding of his godfather Benedict
- the murder of the cardinal subdeacon John
- Preparation of diabolical potions
- Dice game (back then forbidden as a game of chance!)
- Disregarding the canonical times of prayer
- ignoring the sign of the cross.

Friend Johannes first took cover outside Rome, refusing three times to appear before a College of Cardinals as a tribunal.

This then took place in his absence and the Holy Roman Emperor, Otto I,



...who had specially traveled to Rome, personally accused the absentee of perjury (well!) and high treason (that weighs more heavily!)!

Here is a contemporary picture of Otto and Johannes when they still valued each other...:



The tribunal deposed the fine gentleman as pope, but did not condemn him (meaning: he lost his office, but kept his head on his neck!)...



... and then appointed a monk from the lowest hierarchical level (not a cardinal!) named Leo as Leo VII as the new pope...:



As soon as Emperor Otto had left again (and - more importantly - with him his armed power!), Pope John, who had just been deposed, convened a "council" in which no fewer than 16 bishops and 12 cardinals took part (these will be those he will elect for the papacy bought cardinals) and declared the deposition and also the newly installed lay pope null and void or excommunicated!

In addition, all followers of John XII. who had been chased away in the course of the investigation against him were declared reinstated.

John then traveled towards Rome with a large entourage and would certainly have taken over the city (and the church with all its stolen riches) - including his papal throne - and Emperor Otto could do nothing but gnash his teeth in anger.

But then the story came to the aid of the husband who belonged to him - unfortunately his name has not been handed down. What is certain is that this "Pope" in the Campagna, near Rome, was thrown out of a bedchamber window by this husband while he was "attending" his wife...:






Ad maiorem dei gloriam!