Pope Benedict VII
Encyclopedia
Pope Benedict VII, born in Rome
, the son of David or Deodatus (brother of Alberic II of Spoleto
), and previously Bishop of Sutri, died July 10, 983
; belonged to the noble
family of the Counts of Tusculum
. He was elected by the Roman clergy and people under the influence of Sicco, imperial envoy of Emperor Otto II (973–983). He governed Rome
quietly for nearly nine years, a somewhat rare thing in those days. Benedict VII's date of birth is not known with certainty. Benedict VII was related to Prince Alberic II (932–954), and connected to the Crescenti family. He succeeded to the papacy as a compromise candidate, to replace antipope Boniface VII
(974, 984–985). Boniface VII was excommunicated and unsuccessfully attempted to retake the papacy.
Benedict VII promoted monasticism
and ecclesiastical reform along with Emperor Otto II. He also consecrated the priest James, who had been sent to him by the people of Carthage
"to help the wretched province of Africa." Benedict VII visited the city of Orvieto
with his nephew, Filippo Alberici, who later settled there and became Consul of the city state in 1016. The Alberici family live there to this day. In March 981, he presided over a synod
in St Peter's that prohibited simony
. In September 981, Benedict VII convened a Lateran
Synod.
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, the son of David or Deodatus (brother of Alberic II of Spoleto
Alberic II of Spoleto
Alberic II was ruler of Rome from 932 to 954, after deposing his mother Marozia and his stepfather, King Hugh of Italy.He was of the house of the Counts of Tusculum, the son of the notorious Marozia by her first husband, Alberic I, Duke of Spoleto. His half-brother was Pope John XI...
), and previously Bishop of Sutri, died July 10, 983
983
Year 983 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Wood carvers commissioned by China's Song Dynasty complete a carving of the entire Buddhist canon for printing .* The reign of Amir Adhad ad-Dowleh of Buwayhid ends.* Sharaf ad-Dawla becomes Amir Buwayhid.* The...
; belonged to the noble
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
family of the Counts of Tusculum
Counts of Tusculum
The counts of Tusculum were the most powerful secular noblemen in Latium, near Rome, in the present-day Italy between the 10th and 12th centuries. Several popes and an antipope during the 11th century came from their ranks. They created and perfected the political formula of noble-papacy, wherein...
. He was elected by the Roman clergy and people under the influence of Sicco, imperial envoy of Emperor Otto II (973–983). He governed Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
quietly for nearly nine years, a somewhat rare thing in those days. Benedict VII's date of birth is not known with certainty. Benedict VII was related to Prince Alberic II (932–954), and connected to the Crescenti family. He succeeded to the papacy as a compromise candidate, to replace antipope Boniface VII
Antipope Boniface VII
Antipope Boniface VII , was an antipope . He is supposed to have put Pope Benedict VI to death. A popular tumult compelled him to flee to Constantinople in 974; he carried off a vast treasure, and returned in 984 and removed Pope John XIV from office, who had been elected in his absence, by murder...
(974, 984–985). Boniface VII was excommunicated and unsuccessfully attempted to retake the papacy.
Benedict VII promoted monasticism
Monasticism
Monasticism is a religious way of life characterized by the practice of renouncing worldly pursuits to fully devote one's self to spiritual work...
and ecclesiastical reform along with Emperor Otto II. He also consecrated the priest James, who had been sent to him by the people of Carthage
Carthage
Carthage , implying it was a 'new Tyre') is a major urban centre that has existed for nearly 3,000 years on the Gulf of Tunis, developing from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BC...
"to help the wretched province of Africa." Benedict VII visited the city of Orvieto
Orvieto
Orvieto is a city and comune in Province of Terni, southwestern Umbria, Italy situated on the flat summit of a large butte of volcanic tuff...
with his nephew, Filippo Alberici, who later settled there and became Consul of the city state in 1016. The Alberici family live there to this day. In March 981, he presided over a synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
in St Peter's that prohibited simony
Simony
Simony is the act of paying for sacraments and consequently for holy offices or for positions in the hierarchy of a church, named after Simon Magus , who appears in the Acts of the Apostles 8:9-24...
. In September 981, Benedict VII convened a Lateran
Lateran
Lateran and Laterano are the shared names of several architectural projects throughout Rome. The properties were once owned by the Lateranus family of the former Roman Empire...
Synod.