Pope from October 1, 965 - September 6, 972
Died: September 6, 972
Give me the scoop on John XIII.
John XIII’s election on October 1, 965 brought an end to the two-year soap opera between John XII, Leo VIII, and Benedict V. Since John XIII was Emperor Otto I’s choice for pope, the former was thrown into prison by Rome’s elite soon after election. Though John was able to escape, Otto still didn’t like having his buttons pushed, so he beelined to Rome to clean up the city’s corrupt aristocracy. John continued to work closely with the emperor, at one point consecrating his son, Otto II, as co-emperor and later presiding over the latter’s marriage to the Byzantine princess, Theophano. John died in September 972, just short of his seventh anniversary as pope.
What was he known for?
John XIII was known best as a reformer. His close relationship with Otto allowed him to convene councils in Rome, Ravenna, and Germany to address various questions and help restructure parts of the Church there. John also founded archbishoprics in Prague, Poland, and Magdeburg (Germany), in addition to creating a new diocese in England.
Fun fact: John XIII was well connected to Rome’s nobility, being the grandson of Theophylact, the Roman senator from decades earlier, and cousins with both Alberic and Pope John XI.
What else was going on in the world at the time?
966 is widely considered the beginning of the Polish state, following the Christian baptism of Mieszko I, Poland’s first duke, that April.
Coming Tomorrow...Pope Benedict VI
John, E. (1964). The Popes: A concise biographical history. New York: Hawthorn Books.
Died: September 6, 972
Give me the scoop on John XIII.
John XIII’s election on October 1, 965 brought an end to the two-year soap opera between John XII, Leo VIII, and Benedict V. Since John XIII was Emperor Otto I’s choice for pope, the former was thrown into prison by Rome’s elite soon after election. Though John was able to escape, Otto still didn’t like having his buttons pushed, so he beelined to Rome to clean up the city’s corrupt aristocracy. John continued to work closely with the emperor, at one point consecrating his son, Otto II, as co-emperor and later presiding over the latter’s marriage to the Byzantine princess, Theophano. John died in September 972, just short of his seventh anniversary as pope.
What was he known for?
John XIII was known best as a reformer. His close relationship with Otto allowed him to convene councils in Rome, Ravenna, and Germany to address various questions and help restructure parts of the Church there. John also founded archbishoprics in Prague, Poland, and Magdeburg (Germany), in addition to creating a new diocese in England.
Fun fact: John XIII was well connected to Rome’s nobility, being the grandson of Theophylact, the Roman senator from decades earlier, and cousins with both Alberic and Pope John XI.
What else was going on in the world at the time?
966 is widely considered the beginning of the Polish state, following the Christian baptism of Mieszko I, Poland’s first duke, that April.
SOURCES (and further reading)
John, E. (1964). The Popes: A concise biographical history. New York: Hawthorn Books.
Pope John XIII - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08427a.htm
Pope John XIII - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_XIII
960s - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/960s
What is Flocknote?
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!
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!