Pope Benedict IX
Pope Benedict IX took the papacy in 1032 when he was in his 20s and got the position only because of his father’s substantial bribes. He was born Theophylactus of Tusculum and had absolutely no qualifications to be Pope. His lifestyle was one that was not at all suited to the papacy or the church. Historian Ferdinand Gregorovius wrote that Pope Benedict IX was “a demon from hell, in the disguise of a priest.”
Pope Benedict IX got his reputation due to his penchant for illicit relationships and sponsoring orgies. Some even said that he was homosexual and practiced bestiality. Pope Victor II wrote that Pope Benedict IX was “so vile, so foul, so execrable, that I shudder to think of it.” Pope Benedict IX not only feasted on food and flesh throughout his time as Pope but he used the church coffers to do it.
In 1036 the people had enough of him and expelled him from Rome. Emperor Conrad II helped Pope Benedict return to Rome after expelling some of his opponents from their sees. Bishop Benno of Piacenza had accused the Pope of “many vile adulteries and murders.” Pope Benedict IX stayed in power until his lifestyle of sodomy, murder, and depravity caused him to be ousted again in 1044. Pope Sylvester II was put in place but Pope Benedict IX returned with his forces and expelled Pope Sylvester II.
The struggles with keeping the papacy made Pope Benedict IX wonder if it was worth it. He decided to offer the papacy to his godfather John Gratian if he would pay his election expenses. John Gratian agreed hoping to finally remove Pope Benedict IX for good. However, in July 1046, after successfully selling the papacy, Benedict changed his mind and returned to Rome. Emperor Henry III denounced Pope Benedict IX and his godfather and Pope Clement II was crowned. After Pope Clement II died in 1047, Benedict once again seized power until he was driven away in 1048. He refused to face charges of simony in 1049 and was excommunicated from the church.