Pope from May 10, 946 - November 8, 955
Died: November 8, 955
Give me the scoop on Agapetus II.
Agapetus II was the son of Roman nobles, and on May 10, 946 was the fifth handpicked pope of Roman senator Alberic II. Though he wasn’t granted temporal power, he was very active in the management of the Church, and is remembered as being a holy man worthy of the office. ‘Bout dang time.
As pope, Agapetus worked especially to restore discipline in churches and monasteries that had grown a bit lazy. He reigned for nearly a decade, the longest tenure the papacy had seen in almost 30 years. Agapetus II died November 8, 955, and was buried in the Lateran Basilica.
What was he known for?
Agapetus II is known for playing church politics particularly well. Disputes were popping up all over the place, but the pope ably navigated them all. He resolved a spat between France and Germany over who was rightful Archbishop of Rheims, helped two bishops in modern-day Austria/Hungary determine the boundaries of their respective dioceses, and ensured that Italian monasteries which had been unlawfully seized be returned to their rightful owners.
Fun fact: Interestingly enough, Agapetus knew who would succeed him, even before his death. Because Agapetus would obviously outlive Alberic II, the latter demanded that the Romans elect his son and successor, Octavian, to be pope after Agapetus died. And the Roman world turns.
What else was going on in the world at the time?
St. Alban’s School, a secondary school that’s still in operation today, was founded in 948 in St. Albans, England by Wulsin, abbot of the monastery bearing the same name.
Coming Tomorrow...Pope John XII
John, E. (1964). The Popes: A concise biographical history. New York: Hawthorn Books.
Died: November 8, 955
Pronounced ah-gah-PEET-uss
Agapetus II was the son of Roman nobles, and on May 10, 946 was the fifth handpicked pope of Roman senator Alberic II. Though he wasn’t granted temporal power, he was very active in the management of the Church, and is remembered as being a holy man worthy of the office. ‘Bout dang time.
As pope, Agapetus worked especially to restore discipline in churches and monasteries that had grown a bit lazy. He reigned for nearly a decade, the longest tenure the papacy had seen in almost 30 years. Agapetus II died November 8, 955, and was buried in the Lateran Basilica.
What was he known for?
Agapetus II is known for playing church politics particularly well. Disputes were popping up all over the place, but the pope ably navigated them all. He resolved a spat between France and Germany over who was rightful Archbishop of Rheims, helped two bishops in modern-day Austria/Hungary determine the boundaries of their respective dioceses, and ensured that Italian monasteries which had been unlawfully seized be returned to their rightful owners.
Fun fact: Interestingly enough, Agapetus knew who would succeed him, even before his death. Because Agapetus would obviously outlive Alberic II, the latter demanded that the Romans elect his son and successor, Octavian, to be pope after Agapetus died. And the Roman world turns.
What else was going on in the world at the time?
St. Alban’s School, a secondary school that’s still in operation today, was founded in 948 in St. Albans, England by Wulsin, abbot of the monastery bearing the same name.
SOURCES (and further reading)
John, E. (1964). The Popes: A concise biographical history. New York: Hawthorn Books.
Guruge, A. (2010). The Next Pope. New Hampshire: WOWNH
Pope Agapetus II - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01203a.htm
Pope Agapetus II - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Agapetus_II
940s - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/940s
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Yes, it powers and sponsors Popes in a Year, but it's so much more than that. In fact, it's the smartest, most powerful communication tool a ministry can use for regular communication with its members. Invite your ministry to try it free!