From trying a corpse for perjury to selling the papacy to marry a cousin, Catholicism certainly has had its share of colorful Popes.
Pope Formosus (891-896)
Source : Blogspot
While Formosus ’ pontifical sovereignty is notice more for its brevity than its breadth , it ’s the sheer insanity that defined his afterlife that makes him one of the world ’s craziest popes . A year follow his death , the rather batty Pope Stephen VI order Formosus ’ dry up soundbox to be exhumed and put on trial .
bonk as the Cadaver Synod , Formosus ’ remains was dressed in papal vestment and convicted accordingly . In the ruling , it was declared that Formosus was unworthy of the pontificate , and all acts and measure made under his papacy were declare null and void .
Source: Blogspot
Such was the case for three of his finger , as they had been used in various “ illegitimate ” consecrations . So loathsome was Formosus ’ consistence that clerics had it thrust into the River Tiber , only to be exhume later by a monk and put onto test – again – by Sergius III . This time , Formosus ’ punishment was a beheading .
Pope Sergius III (904-911)
Source : All bill
Beyond ordering the second Cadaver Synod on hapless Pope Formosus , Sergius III is well known for being the forerunner of cocotte , transform the papacy into what many historians dub the ‘ pornacracy ’ , and ordering the murder of at least one of his papal predecessor .
In 904 , it ’s reported that the powerfulness - lusting Sergius ordered the strangulation slaying of Antipope Christopher and Pope Leo V , though the historical validity of the latter is still shrouded in a moment of a mystery .
Source: All Posters
In between his bouts of bloodsport , Sergius still found time for love with his 15 - year - old mistress Marozia . This tryst resulted in the birth of their illegitimate son , succeeding Pope John XI . And with the exorbitant amount of power Marozia and her female parent Theodora had on Sergius , some believed that the papal post became little more than a whorehouse .
