129. Marinus II: October 30, 942 - May, 946 (3 years)
Evidently, Marinus II wasn't much of a pope. Like his two predecessors, Marinus II owed his position to the power and good will of Alberic II, absolute ruler or Rome.
130. Agapetus II: May 10, 946 - December, 955 (9 years)
Elected due to the influence of Alberic II, absolute ruler of Rome, Pope Agapitus II signed an agreement to ensure tha Alberic's son Octavian would be Agapitus' successor - a violation of a decree issued by Pope Symmachus in 499.
131. John XII: December 16, 955 - December 4, 963 (7 years, 11 months)
Pope John XII was just 18 years old when he was elected pope on the orders of Duke Alberic II of Spoleto, ruler Rome and his father. This was very much a scandal, something made even worse by the fact that he was such a womanizer that the papal palace came to be described as a brothel.
132. Leo VIII: December 4, 963 - February 26, 964
The pontificate of Leo VIII has at times been in serious question because the deposition of his predecessor was of questionable legitimacy. Nevertheless, official records show overlapping pontificates without suggesting a problem.
133. Benedict V: May 22 - July 4, 964 (1 month)
Benedict V was elected pope in very unusual circumstances. Emperor Otto I had deposed Pope John XII after having found him to be unworthy and forcibly installed Leo VII as his successor.
134. John XIII: October 1, 965 - September 6, 972 (6 years, 11 months, 5 days)
Pope John XIII was, for the most part, a embarrassment to the Roman Catholic Church and remains so even to this day. His pursuit of women was so extensive and unashamed that the Latern Palace came to be known as a little more than a brothel.
135. Benedict VI: January 19, 973 - July, 974 (1 year, c. 6 months)
Not much is known about Pope Benedict VI except that he came to a violent end. When his protector, Emperor Otto the Great, died, the Roman citizens rebelled against Benedict and he was strangled by a priest...
136. Benedict VII: October, 974 - July 10, 983 (8 years)
The papacy of Benedict VII was plagued by the efforts of antipope Boniface VII, always seeking to undermine Benedict's authority and take his place. Benedict had Boniface excommunicated, but it didn't do any good...
137. John XIV: December, 983 - August 20, 984 (c. 4 months)
John XIV was caught up in very unfortunate circumstances. He was chosen by emperor Otto II, without consultation with anyone else, and this meant that Otto was his only friend or supporter in the world.
138. John XV: August, 985 - April, 996 (10 years, c. 6 months)
Hated by much of the Roman clergy because of his greed and nepotism, Pope John XV is today perhaps best known for being the first pope to canonize a saint: Ulric of Augusburg in 993.
139. Gregory V: May 3, 996 - February 18, 999 (2 years)
Pope Gregory V is either the first or the second German pope, depending upon how you judge matters. Boniface II, who had reigned from 530-532, had Gothic origins and many people consider that to be sufficiently Germanic to call him the first German pope.
140. Sylvester II: April 2, 999 - May 12, 1003 (4 years)
The first Frenchman to become pope, Gerbert of Aurillac Sylvester II because the first Sylvester was a pope known for his close working relationship with the emperor.
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