Benedict Ix News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Problem for the church and you've got to sort that out. >> in july of 1048, benedict ix is officially ousted once and for all. the cardinals decide the fairest way to consolidate papal power is to ignore sylvester and gregory's claims to the throne, clear the decks, and elect a new pope. >> one of the problems in the 11th century was there was no clear way of choosing a pope. >> it was an answer of frequently murder. bribery. and also relationship, the sons of popes sometimes became popes, choosing a pope. it is very confused and it's never a pretty sight. >> it's very clear that the office of...

His papacy. >> but despite the peaceful nature in which celestine v resigned and because of the violence and instability surrounding the resignation of benedict ix 250 years earlier, the new pope must make sure that celestine is never heard from again. >> after celestine retired and boniface became the pope, he felt that it was dangerous to have two living popes. >> you can't have another pope knocking about and threatening the pope. >> immediately after celestine leaves the vatican, boniface has him attacked and locked up. >> he didn't want celestine

Training. >> nepotism tended to produce a group of wealthy para sites who lived like grandese, who were also clergy. >> he was incompetent. he was morally compromised in many ways. >> benedict was up to his neck in robbery and murder. he was using his position to gain wealth at the expense of the people of rome. >> by the year 1044, the cardinals are fed up. they decide the church needs a real spiritual and political leader, something must be done. >> the holiest priest in rome came to him and said, "you need to step down for the good of the church, what can i give you?" and made him some sort...

Gregory vi. then the really scandalous thing happened. benedict's lady love decided not to marry him after all and he decided he wanted the papacy back. gregory vi said, no, i'm pope. sylvester iii who is still in the village said, don't forget about me and now we have three popes. we have three popes and there is no one to declare which one is the most legitimate. >> benedict's, sylvester's and gregory's factions all fight in the streets of rome over who is the rightful heir to the papal throne, and in the end benedict ix's wealthy family wins again. >> benedict is pope three times in the end...

To get all sorts of concessions and control over more power, and the roman contingent and the college of cardinals became increasingly alarmed. he was helped to retire by his successor, who was a pro-roman pope, boniface viii. it was said that he whispered through a hole in the pope's cell where he prayed and that he said he was the voice of god and told the pope to resign so that he could be elected pope in his stead. >> he had made a vow to become a morning, simply living in retirement for the good of his health. the only pope who ever voluntarily did before benedict xvi. >> a couple of year...