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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...

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...

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 i'm the pope, and sylvester iii, who was still outside the village said, no, don't forget about me. now we have three popes, and no one to declare which one 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. in the end, benedict's family wins again. >> benedict was pope three times in the end. >> after benedict's reign sends the church ...

Shattered. >> all of this becomes a real problem for the church and you have 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 a matter of, frequently, murder. bribery. and also relationship, the sons of popes sometimes became popes, choosing a pope. it's very confused, and it's never a pretty sight...

>> now their positions had reversed. benedict is in rome and sylvester iii is in exile. but they're both still claiming to be pope. >> benedict ix was the first pope that comes back and they have to decide who's the real pope now? >> with rome's allegiances split between benedict and sylvester, the church faces a crisis of faith. how does one decide who holds the legacy of st. peter? the romans will not have long to figure it out. only one month into benedict ix's second papacy he complicates the matter even further. >> benedict then, in the way of impetuous young men, he decided he didn't wan...