Benedict V (964)

Benedict V was a pope of the Catholic Church who reigned from 23 May to 28 June 964. He was the first pope to be elected by the Roman people, and his election was a result of the political turmoil of the time. Benedict V was a reformer who sought to restore the power of the papacy and to bring the Church back to its former glory.

Benedict V was born in Rome in the year 910. He was the son of a Roman nobleman and was educated in the liberal arts. He was ordained a priest in 935 and was appointed archdeacon of the Roman Church in 945. He was also a close advisor to Pope John XII, who was pope from 955 to 964.

In 964, the Roman people were in a state of political unrest. The Roman Senate had been overthrown by the powerful Roman nobleman Alberic II, who had taken control of the city. Alberic II had appointed his own candidate, Leo VIII, as pope. However, the people of Rome were not happy with this arrangement and they demanded that a new pope be elected.

The people of Rome chose Benedict V as their new pope. He was elected on 23 May 964 and was consecrated on 28 June 964. Benedict V was a reformer who sought to restore the power of the papacy and to bring the Church back to its former glory. He was a strong advocate of papal authority and sought to strengthen the Church's position in the world.

Benedict V was a strong supporter of the monastic movement and he encouraged the growth of monasteries throughout Europe. He also sought to reform the Church's administration and to strengthen its finances. He was a strong advocate of the papal primacy and sought to restore the power of the papacy.

Benedict V was a popular pope and his election was welcomed by the people of Rome. However, his reign was short-lived. Alberic II, who had appointed Leo VIII as pope, was not happy with Benedict V's election and he forced him to resign in June 964. Benedict V was replaced by Leo VIII, who was pope until his death in 965.

Benedict V was a reformer who sought to restore the power of the papacy and to bring the Church back to its former glory. He was a strong advocate of papal authority and sought to strengthen the Church's position in the world. He was a popular pope and his election was welcomed by the people of Rome. However, his reign was short-lived and he was forced to resign in June 964. Despite his short reign, Benedict V was an important figure in the history of the papacy and his reforms helped to shape the Church for centuries to come.