Pope Boniface VI
| Pope Boniface VI | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Rome | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Papacy began | 11 April 896 |
| Papacy ended | 26 April 896 |
| Predecessor | Formosus |
| Successor | Stephen VI |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rome, Papal States |
| Died | 26 April 896 Rome, Papal States[1] |
| Other popes named Boniface | |
Pope Boniface VI (Latin: Bonifatius VI; died 26 April 896), a native of Rome,[2] 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.[3] After a pontificate of fifteen days, he is said by some to have died of gout,[3] and by others to have been forcibly ejected to make way for Stephen VI, the candidate of the Spoletan party.
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.[3]
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]
See also
From the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia
Pope Boniface VI — A Roman, elected in 896 by the Roman faction in a popular tumult, to succeed Formosus. He had twice incurred a sentence of deprivation of orders, as a subdeacon and as a priest. At the Council of Rome, held by John IX in 898, his election was pronounced null. After a pontificate of fifteen days, he is said by some to have died of the gout, by others to have been forcibly ejected to make way for Stephen VI, the candidate of the Spoletan party.
Liber Pontificalis (ed. DUCHESNE), II, 228; IDEM, Les premiers temps de l'état pontifical (2nd ed., Paris, 1904), 299; JAFFÉ, Regesta RR. PP., I, 439; JUNGMANN, Dissertationes, IV, 22.
References
- Back to citation The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Boniface VI". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- Back to citation 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
- Back to citation occurrence 3.0 Back to citation occurrence 3.1 Back to citation occurrence 3.2 McBrien, Richard P. (2000). Lives of the Popes: The Pontiffs from St. Peter to Benedict XVI. HarperCollins. p. 146. ISBN 0-06-087807-X.
- Back to citation Baronius, Caesar (1868). Annales Ecclesiastici. in Monumenta Germaniae Historica.
- Back to citation occurrence 5.0 Back to citation occurrence 5.1 "Pope Boniface VI - PopeHistory.com". popehistory.com. 2017-01-27. Retrieved 2023-05-18.