Pope Leo VII
| Pope Leo VII | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Rome | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Papacy began | 3 January 936 |
| Papacy ended | 13 July 939 |
| Predecessor | John XI |
| Successor | Stephen VIII |
| Previous post | Cardinal-Priest of San Sisto (8 April 933-3 January 936) |
| Personal details | |
| Died | 13 July 939 |
| Other popes named Leo | |
Pope Leo VII (died 13 July 939) was the bishop of Rome and nominal ruler of the Papal States from 3 January 936 to his death.
Election
Leo VII's election to the papacy in 936, after the death of Pope John XI,[1][2] was secured by Alberic II of Spoleto, the ruler of Rome at the time. Alberic wanted to choose the pope so that the papacy would continue to yield to his authority. Leo was the priest of the church of San Sisto Vecchio in Rome, thought to be a Benedictine monk. He had little ambition towards the papacy, but consented under pressure.
Pontificate
As pope, Leo VII reigned for only three years. Most of his bulls were grants of privilege to monasteries, especially including the Abbey of Cluny.[3] Leo called for Odo of Cluny to mediate between Alberic and King Hugh of Italy. Odo was successful in negotiating a truce after arranging a marriage between Hugh's daughter Alda and Alberic. Leo VII also appointed Archbishop Frederick of Mainz as a reformer in Germany. Leo allowed Frederick to drive out Jews that refused to be baptized, but he did not endorse the forced baptism of Jews.[4]
Leo VII died on 13 July 939, and was interred at St. Peter's Basilica.[5] He was succeeded by Stephen VIII.
From the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia
Pope Leo VII — Date of birth unknown; d. 13 July, 939. A Roman and priest of St. Sixtus, and probably a Benedictine monk, he was elected pope 3 January, 936. He seems to have been placed upon the Chair of Peter by the power of Alberic, prince and senator of the Romans. Alberic's authority in Rome was disputed by Hugo, who bore the title of King of Italy (Langobardia). The city was being besieged by Hugo when the famous Odo, Abbot of Cluny, reached it. He had been summoned by Leo, who knew his great influence with both Alberic and Hugo, to make peace between them. Odo accomplished the desires of the pope, and a marraige between Alberic and Hugo's daughter Alda effected at least a temporary understanding between the belligerents. The Bulls of Leo consist for the most part of grants of privilege to various monasteries, especailly to Cluny. One, however, is a letter to Frederick, Archbishop of Mainz. With a view to co-operating in the work of reform which was being accomplished in Germany by Henry I (the Fowler) and his son Otho I, Leo named Frederick his vicar throughout all Germany, with power to proceed against all erring clerics. He would not, however, allow the archbishop to baptize the Jews by force, though he did authorize their expulsion from the cities on their refusal to embrace Christianity.
Liber Pontificalis, ed. Duchesne, II (Paris, 1892), 244; Jaffé Reg. Pontif., I (Leipzig, 1888), 3597 sqq.; Mann, Lives of the Popes in the Early Middle Ages, IV (London, 1906), 205 sqq.
References
- Back to citation 9th edition (1880s) of the Encyclopædia Britannica
- 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. 239, retrieved 2013-04-25
- Back to citation Mann, Horace. "Pope Leo VII." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 4 November 2017
- Back to citation Popes Through The Ages by Joseph Brusher S. J.
- Back to citation "Pope Leo VII (Leone ) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org.