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Pope Boniface VI

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Boniface VI
Bishop of Rome
ChurchCatholic Church
Papacy began11 April 896
Papacy ended26 April 896
PredecessorFormosus
SuccessorStephen VI
Personal details
Born
Bonifacio

Died26 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 the gout,[3] and by others to have been forcibly ejected to make way for Stephen VI, the candidate of the Spoletan party.[4]

The Papal historian Caesar Baronius describes him as a 'disgusting monster' guilty of adultery and homicide. [5]

At a synod in Rome held by John IX in 898, his election was pronounced null and void.[3]

Early life

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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.[6] He then likely served as a sub-deacon or priest before his election to the papacy. [6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Boniface VI". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ a b c McBrien, Richard P. (2000). Lives of the Popes: The Pontiffs from St. Peter to Benedict XVI. HarperCollins. p. 146. ISBN 0-06-087807-X.
  4. ^  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainHerbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Pope Boniface VI". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  5. ^ Baronius, Caesar (1868). Annales Ecclesiastici. in Monumenta Germaniae Historica.
  6. ^ a b "Pope Boniface VI - PopeHistory.com". popehistory.com. 2017-01-27. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Pope
896
Succeeded by