Pope Boniface VI

Contents

Pope Boniface VI (Latin: Bonifatius VI; died 26 April 896), a native of Rome,[1] served very briefly as the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States in April of 896. He was elected as a result of riots soon after the death of Pope Formosus on April 4. Prior to his reign, he had twice incurred a sentence of deprivation of orders as a subdeacon and as a priest.[2] After a pontificate of fifteen days, he is said by some to have died of gout,[2] and by others to have been forcibly ejected to make way for Stephen VI, the candidate of the Spoletan party.[3]

Pontificate

The Papal historian Caesar Baronius describes him as a 'disgusting monster' guilty of adultery and homicide.[4]

At a synod in Rome held by John IX in 898, his election was pronounced null and void.[2]

Little is written about the life of Boniface VI. It is believed by historians that his father was a man called Adrian, who was also a bishop.[5] He then likely served as a sub-deacon or priest before his election to the papacy.[5]

References

  1. 1.Platina, Bartolomeo (1479), The Lives of the Popes From The Time Of Our Saviour Jesus Christ to the Accession of Gregory VII, vol. I, London: Griffith Farran & Co., p. 237, retrieved 2013-04-25
  2. 2.[2.2][2.3]McBrien, Richard P. (2000). Lives of the Popes: The Pontiffs from St. Peter to Benedict XVI. HarperCollins. p. 146. ISBN 0-06-087807-X.
  3. 3.One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Pope Boniface VI". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  4. 4.Baronius, Caesar (1868). Annales Ecclesiastici. in Monumenta Germaniae Historica.
  5. 5.[5.2]"Pope Boniface VI - PopeHistory.com". popehistory.com. 2017-01-27. Retrieved 2023-05-18.