List of murdered Popes

Several Popes have ended their lives violently. The great majority of the first twenty-five Popes are believed to have been martyred. In later times, Pope Stephen VI and Pope Benedict VI were executed by strangling, and Pope John XIV died in not fully clear circumstances while in prison. In addition there were, from the ninth to the twentieth century, rumours, generally without sure foundation (see the references below), that other Popes were murdered. Most of these belonged to a period when the Pope was the ruler of a moderately large state in central Italy, as well as wielding great spiritual power over the Roman Catholic Church.

Chronological list of Popes (non-martyrs) murdered

* Stephen VI (896-897) - Strangled [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14289d.htm Pope Stephen (VI) VII] ]
* Stephen VII/(IX) (939-942) - Mutilatedfact|date=June 2007
* John XII (955-964) - Murdered by cuckolded husband [ The article [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08426b.htm "Pope John XII"] says instead that he died eight days after, according to rumour, having been stricken with paralysis in an act of adultery.]
* Benedict VI (973-974) - Strangled [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02428c.htm Pope Benedict VI] ]
* John XIV (983-984) - Either by starvation, ill-treatment or direct murder [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08427b.htm Pope John XIV] ]
* Gregory V (996-999) - Poisonedfact|date=July 2007
* Boniface VIII (1294-1303) - Death possibly (though unlikely) from the effects of ill-treatment one month before [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02662a.htm Pope Boniface VIII] ]
Some Popes however are alleged to have been killed but there is little or no evidence to substantiate these claims. The most recent would be the case of Pope John Paul I who some believe was killed during his 33 day papacy. [Yallop's In Gods Name]

Chronological list of Popes who are alleged to have been murdered

* John VIII (872-882) - Allegedly poisoned and then clubbed to death [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08423c.htm Pope John VIII] ]
* Adrian III (884-885)- Allegedly poisonedfact|date=June 2007
* Leo V (903) - Allegedly strangled [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09159b.htm Pope Leo V] ]
* John X (914-928) - Allegedly smothered with pillow [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08425b.htm Pope John X] ]
* Stephen VII/(VIII) (928-931) - Allegedly murderedfact|date=July 2007
* Sergius IV (1009-1012) - Allegedly murderedfact|date=July 2007
* Clement II (1046-1047) - Allegedly poisoned [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04017a.htm Pope Clement II] ]
* Damasus II (1048) - Allegedly murderedfact|date=July 2007
* Benedict XI (1304-1305) - Allegedly poisoned; no evidence providedfact|date=July 2007
* John Paul I (1978) - Surprising death just 33 days after Papal election prompted scrutiny and birthed a myriad of conspiracies theories; no evidence provided [Pope John Paul I conspiracy theories]

References