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There have been a number of popes who were suspected to have been murdered. The following list does not include popes who were martyred but lists those popes alleged to have been murdered.
- John VIII (872–882): Allegedly poisoned and then clubbed to death
- Adrian III (884–885): Allegedly poisoned
- Leo V (903): Allegedly strangled
- John X (914–928): Allegedly smothered with pillow
- Stephen VII/(VIII) (928–931): Allegedly murdered
- Sergius IV (1009–1012): Allegedly murdered
- Clement II (1046–1047): Allegedly poisoned
- Damasus II (1048): Allegedly murdered
- John XXI (1276-1277): While visiting the construction of a church, the roof collapsed on him, leading to conspiracy theories
- Celestine V (1294, died 1296): Held captive and allegedly murdered after his abdication, by order of his successor, Pope Boniface VIII
- Boniface VIII (1294–1303): Death possibly (though unlikely) from the effects of ill-treatment one month before
- Benedict XI (1304–1305): Allegedly poisoned; no evidence provided
- Pius XI (1922-1939): Allegedly, in connection with his doctor's having been the father of Benito Mussolini's mistress
- John Paul I (1978): Death just 33 days after Papal election led to conspiracy theories
What else can I help you with?
Can the pope be fired?
A:There is no process for dismissing a Catholic pope. Several popes have been murdered as the only practical alternative.AnswerOnly God can fire a pope.
What was the name of the pope in Tom Becket?
Pope Alexander III was reigning at the time Thomas Becket was murdered in the year 1170.
Was the first pope of Rome murdered?
Yes, St. Peter was crucified on an upside down cross.
Why was Christopher changed by the Catholic Church from pope to antipope in the nineteenth century?
A:The history of the tenth century is not always clear, especially in respect to some otherwise obscure popes. Christopher's predecessor Leo V was imprisoned and murdered either by his successor, Christopher, or the following year by Pope Sergius III.There should only be one pope at any one time, so if Christopher murdered Leo there is no problem and his election was valid. If, on the other hand, Leo was merely imprisoned by Christopher and was murdered by Pope Sergius III, who also murdered Christopher, then Sergius III would be a true pope, but Christopher was only an antipope.Christopher was considered a true pope until the nineteenth or twentieth century, but is now considered an anti-pope, which means that he is now considered not to have been properly elected because Leo was still in prison but alive.
What was Pope Leo V famous for?
A:Leo V was pope for only a very short period before he was assassinated by a successor as pope. The conflicting stories of his murder have given Pope Leo V more fame than he otherwise would have had.Leo was either murdered a few weeks after his election, by his successor, Pope Christopher, or the following year by Pope Sergius III, who also murdered Christopher. There should only be one pope at any one time, and Christopher was considered a true pope until the twentieth century, but is now considered an anti-pope, which means that he is now considered not to have been properly elected because Leo was still in prison but alive.
Who murdered Saint Elizabeth?
If you are referring to Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist, she was not murdered. She died of natural causes, probably complications of old age.
Who was the most murderous pope?
A:Throughout history, popes have generally considered themselves above the law, which means that if a pope wished to commit murder or, more usually, order a victim to be murdered, he was free to do so. For this reason, it is hard to establish which pope was probably the most murderous. A likely candidate for this dubious honour is Pope Benedict IX, who is also the first sexually active pope said to have been primarily homosexual.
How many Popes committed murder or had people murdered by others?
Well, honey, let me tell you - there have been a few shady Popes in history. Some of those fellas didn't exactly have halos above their heads. We've got Pope Stephen VI, who had his predecessor Pope Formosus dug up and put on trial (yes, you heard that right), and then there's Pope John XII who allegedly killed a few folks here and there. So, to answer your question, there have been a couple of Popes with some blood on their hands.
When was Thomas Becket made a saint?
In 1170. By: SobanaOn December 29 1170, four knights brutally murdered the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket in the Canterbury Cathedral.1170
When was John Paul II murdered?
Pope John Paul II wasn't officially murdered. He died on April 2, 2005, of heart failure from profound hypotension and complete circulatory collapse from septic shock. Though since exhumation and autopsy are forbidden on the bodies of deceased Popes, there is a possibility of poison.
What did the pope do after thomas becket died?
After Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170, Pope Alexander III condemned the act and excommunicated those involved in the assassination. He later canonized Becket as a saint in 1173, elevating him to martyr status and strengthening the conflict between the church and the English monarchy. The pope also encouraged the establishment of Becket's shrine in Canterbury, which became a significant pilgrimage site.
Was Pope John Paul I murdered?
At most we can only speculate whether Pope John Paul I was murdered. The decision not to allow an autopsy is not conclusive, nor is the evidence that Vatican officials lied at first about the circumstances of Pope John Paul's death and the circumstances in which he was found. This could be explained, if not convincingly, as attempts to manage the pope's image. Any murderer would have known that the Vatican would close ranks and ensure no hint of suspicion was allowed to become public.The most telling evidence for a possible conclusion of murder is that the day before his death he had informed Cardinal Baggio that he planned to move demote him, and discussed with Cardinal Villot, Vatican Secretary of State, plans to remove key personnel from office then asked Villot for his resignation the following morning. If murder had been suspected, Baggio and Villot would have been key suspects, but they could also have informed others whom the pope would move against. There would be many within the Vatican with the motive and opportunity to murder their pope.
