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Pope Stephen (VIII) IX
Historical Article from The Catholic Encyclopedia
Catholic Encyclopedia
Historical Context
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Article Text
(939-942)
Date of birth unknown; he became pope about 14 July, 939, and died about the end of Oct., 942. Despite the contrary assertions of late writers, there is no doubt that Stephen was a Roman and cardinal-priest of SS. Silvester and Martin. He supported the declining Carlovingian dynasty, and by threat of excommunication forced the nobles to be faithful to the Frankish King Louis IV d’Outre-Mer. Throughout the whole of his pontificate he was subject to Alberic, Prince of the Romans, and so had little opportunity of distinguishing himself.
Sources
Liber Pontificalis, II, 244; privileges, P.L., CXXXII; FRODOARD, Annals; MANN, Lives of the Popes in the Early Middle Ages, IV (London, 1910), 212 sq.
Source Record
- Author
- Mann, Horace
- Publication
- The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1912.
- Nihil Obstat
- Nihil Obstat. July 1, 1912. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor.
- Imprimatur
- Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.