Youngest Pope at 20: The wild reign and scandals of Benedict IX

In the 11th century, Benedict IX stood out as the youngest pope to occupy Peter's throne, with three interspersed papacies. Historiographic sources differ as to his exact age when he assumed the papacy, but it is estimated that he was between 12 and 20 years old. Baptized as Theophyllact of Tusculum, he belonged to the influential aristocratic family... The post Pope Benedict IX: The “Disgrace in Peter's Chair” appeared first on The Antagonist.

Youngest Pope at 20: The wild reign and scandals of Benedict IX

In the long history of the Catholic Church, no pope has ever taken the throne at a younger age or left it more controversially than Pope Benedict IX.  Elected in the 11th century, Benedict IX was just 20 years old when he became head of the Catholic Church, and his time in office was anything but ordinary. Born Theophylactus of Tusculum around 1012, he came from one of Rome’s most powerful families.  Thanks to his father’s political muscle and i…